Mercy Thompson is capable without being invincible. Her independence, mechanical skills, and complicated history with the local werewolf pack make her feel like a fully developed person rather than a collection of supernatural abilities. The mystery is engaging, and the world introduces vampires, fae, shapeshifters, and Native American mythology without overwhelming the reader. The restrained romantic tension leaves room for Mercy’s own story to lead.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Cursed as children.
Empowered as adults.
Now, they’ve been summoned to stop a force older than the gods themselves.
Stone Hearts
Olympian Awakenings Trilogy Book 1
by CB Samet
Genre: Greek Mythology Urban Fantasy Romance
Madison was cursed to destroy with a glance—until a prophecy calls her to fight beside the one man who sees through her walls… and into her heart.
Cursed to turn the living to stone, Madison has spent her life avoiding others—until a prophecy drags her to Greece to join a team of strangers to help stop an ancient evil. Among them, she meets Rex, a battle-scarred archaeologist with the power to heal and secrets of his own.
Together, they must survive deadly skirmishes, outwit mythical creatures, and recover the Armor of Achilles from the heart of Daedalus’ labyrinth.
The deeper they go, the more the maze twists not just the path, but their minds.
Failure isn’t an option. Succeeding might cost them everything.
Magic. Monsters. A love forged in fire. The battle is only beginning.
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Winds of Destiny
Olympian Awakenings Book 2
When a titan’s power surges, mortals pay the price—and the Olympians must answer the call.
Layla, Tyler, and the other Olympians are thrust on a perilous quest across the Mediterranean and into the sunken heart of Atlantis to reclaim Poseidon’s trident. Their sea voyage is fraught with danger with deadly monsters and diabolical magic at every turn. Only by learning to trust—and love—each other can they hope to survive.
Layla’s storm powers are tied to her heart, and to master them, she must first confront the emotions she’s spent years guarding. Tyler, a shapeshifter whose might can rival the fiercest beasts, may be the key to her control—but breaking through the walls around her heart won’t be easy. Their past mistakes still linger, and some wounds run too deep for even the strongest powers to heal.
Adventure, danger, and passion collide in this electrifying continuation of the Olympian Awakens series.
Grab Book 2 and continue the thrilling ride!
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Flame and Shadow
Olympian Awakenings Book 3
A titan is rising.
And this time, the world may not survive.
Fire-wielder Zoey has spent her life afraid of her own power. Ancient soldier Alexios has spent centuries believing he was nothing more than a weapon. Together, they’ve survived monsters, gods, and impossible quests—but nothing prepares them for Kronos’s final move.
As fractures tear open between worlds, monsters pour into the mortal realm and the boundary between life and death begins to collapse. When a desperate sacrifice strands Zoey in the Underworld itself, ancient warrior Alexios must defy gods, fate, and death to bring her home—before she loses her memories… and herself.
The final battle will demand everything from all six champions who have fought side by side: fire and storm, stone and steel, courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable trust.
Because defeating a Titan will take more than power.
It will take a family forged in battle—and two souls willing to burn for each other and the world they refuse to lose.
The explosive conclusion to the Olympian Awakenings trilogy delivers epic Greek mythology, found family, and a sweeping romantic finale where love and legend collide.
**NEW RELEASE!!**
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Stormborn & Flameforged
Olympian Awakenings Prequel
When fire meets storm, destiny ignites.
Zoey has always felt the burn of something more beneath her skin—an untamed fire that refuses to be extinguished. After years of hiding her power, she’s finally found belonging and a chance to be normal… as a stunt double on a Hollywood set.
Layla is the picture of grace and fame, a star with a global following. But behind the camera, she’s hiding a dangerous secret: she can control the weather.
When a monstrous creature straight from myth attacks during filming, Zoey and Layla are forced to reveal their powers—and discover they’re not alone. Chosen by ancient forces, bound by a forgotten legacy, the two women must join forces to face a truth that will shatter everything they thought they knew.
Because the world is on the brink of chaos.
And this is only the beginning.
Get It FREE HERE!
Christina is a four-time award winning author in thriller, romantic suspense, and fantasy. She is a mother of two energetic boys. She is a lover of suspense, adventure, and happy endings. She writes action and adventure in fantasy, thrillers, and romantic suspense genres. Her novels have empowered women overcoming powerful obstacles and the strong men who support them.
Favoritequote, ‘She needed a hero. So she became one.’ –Robin Reed
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I wear a lot of hats… mom, wife, daughter, sister, author, Realtor, coach, team leader, actress, director, producer, business owner, etc. I get asked all the time, how I balance everything.
The honest answer? Some weeks I don’t. Sometimes I’m walking a very fine line, one second away from falling off the ledge.
One minute I’m negotiating contracts. The next I’m coaching agents. Then I’m directing actors through rehearsals. And somewhere in between all of that… I’m trying to remember what my fictional characters were doing before I had to answer seventeen phone calls.
It’s a strange life.
Sometimes I wonder if writing would be easier if it were my only job.
Then I remember that every one of these roles gives me something… makes me who I am… and pushes me to be the best version of myself.
Real estate, through my clients, my team members, and my coaching students teaches me the importance of setting and striving to reach my goals.
Theatre teaches me about chasing my dreams and never giving up.
Coaching teaches me about people, human nature, and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
Maybe balance isn’t about doing less. Maybe it’s about remembering that every part of my life has a purpose and that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help.
~Nina Soden #TheRedheadedAuthor
Winston Smith is not a conventional hero. He is frightened, compromised, and desperate for a truth he can barely define. His weaknesses make the power of the Party feel even more overwhelming. The plot can be intellectually dense, particularly during its political explanations, but its portrayal of surveillance, manipulated language, and controlled reality remains deeply disturbing. The conclusion is intentionally devastating rather than reassuring.
My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Zélie’s anger and determination are rooted in personal loss and systemic persecution. Amari develops from a frightened princess into someone willing to challenge her family, while Inan’s internal conflict shows the damage created by fear and indoctrination. The plot is ambitious, action-packed, and emotionally intense, though some romantic developments feel rushed. The magic system and West African-inspired world give the novel a vivid identity.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Today was supposed to be a writing day.
I even had it on my calendar.
Coffee.
Laptop.
Chapter nine.
I don’t get a lot of time to write but today was supposed to be simple. Not thing on my calendar, except writing, until later in the day.
Except life had other plans. A client called about a contract. Another needed to see a house. Someone had a question about coaching. Dinner theatre preparation started early.
By the time I finally sat down, at the end of the day, my brain felt like it had already lived three separate days.
For a moment I felt guilty. I promised myself and my readers that I would publish two novels this year and its already the end of August and I haven’t even published the first one.
The book didn’t grow today. It was supposed to, but it didn’t.
Then I realized… maybe it did.
Every conversation I had today taught me something about people. About hope. About stress. About disappointment. About joy.
Those are the things stories are made of, right?
Maybe writing isn’t always typing words. Sometimes it’s simply paying attention to the world around me.
Tomorrow, I’ll open the manuscript again.And maybe today’s life will help tomorrow’s chapter become something better.
~Nina Soden #TheRedheadedAuthor
Percy Jackson’s humor and frustration make him an immediately likable narrator. Discovering that his difficulties are connected to his identity as a demigod allows him to reinterpret qualities he once considered weaknesses. Annabeth and Grover contribute their own skills and insecurities rather than functioning as simple sidekicks. The quest is fast, funny, and filled with clever modern versions of Greek mythology.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
This week the house felt… different.
Not quieter in the way people usually mean when they talk about becoming empty nesters. It wasn’t just the lack of noise. It was the lack of purpose.
For years, my calendar revolved around school schedules, kids’ events, helping with homework, shopping for what my kids needed, packing lunches, and figuring out what everyone wanted for dinner. Somewhere along the way, being “Mom” became such a big part of who I was that I forgot there would one day be fewer people needing me every hour of every day.
Now the house is still.
Too still, sometimes.
I keep walking past their bedrooms that are clean, because I cleaned them after they left so they would have a clean room to come home too on breaks. I catch myself wondering if I should text my kids just to say hello, then stop because I don’t want to interrupt whatever they’re doing at college.
I’m proud of them.
I’m excited for them.
And if I’m being honest… I miss them more than I words can express.
People keep telling me this means I’ll have more time to travel, to explore new hobbies, to read, and to write.
Maybe they’re right.
But writing has always come from my heart, and right now, my heart is broken. It’s learning how to live in a different season of life.
Maybe that’s okay.
Maybe every new chapter—whether in life or in a novel—feels a little uncomfortable at first.
I’ll keep writing.
One page at a time.
~Nina Soden #TheRedheadedAuthor
Katniss Everdeen is practical, emotionally guarded, and driven by survival rather than a desire to become heroic. Her devotion to Prim and complicated partnership with Peeta reveal her compassion gradually. The Games create immediate suspense, but the novel’s deeper strength lies in its examination of propaganda, inequality, and public entertainment. The pacing is excellent, and nearly every action carries emotional or political consequences.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
As authors, we tend to believe momentum is everything.
Miss a few days.
Then a few weeks.
Before long, it feels impossible to start again.
But our stories don’t keep score.
Our characters aren’t angry when we step away. Our readers won’t know how many false starts happened behind the scenes.
Every writing session is simply another opportunity to begin.
One paragraph. One page. One scene.
That’s how every novel is written—not in one perfect stretch, but in hundreds of small decisions to return to the page.
If you’ve been away from your manuscript, like me, consider this your reminder:
You don’t have to catch up. You only have to start where you are today.
I am going to make the choice to begin again!
Article by Nina Soden #TheRedheadedAuthor
Nina Soden 