Always Reading

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Release Blitz: Shallow Remains by Kaylea Cross

Title: Shallow Remains

Duet: Skeleton Island #3

Author: Kaylea Cross

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Protector Hero, Small Town Romance

Virgin Heroine, Romantic Mystery

Release Date: September 29, 2026

BLURB

A deadly betrayal taught her to guard her heart at all costs.

IT expert Maddy Krause has always felt like an outsider, never fitting in anywhere. When she finally let her guard down and opened her heart to a man, it almost cost her life. Now she’s starting over and building a new life on Skeleton Island. The last thing she expected was to meet a man who makes her want more and to trust again. Then a ghost from her past resurfaces, and surviving what happens next will test the fragile foundations they’ve started to build.

But one man tempts her to risk it all again.

Former Coast Guard rescue swimmer Lachlan McCaffrey carries emotional scars of his own, but Maddy brings out all his protective instincts. It’s clear she’s been hurt before and he’s determined to win her trust and heart. But just as she starts to let her walls down, danger closes in. Someone connected to her past is bent on exacting revenge, putting them both in a killer’s crosshairs.

What you’ll get:

-Protector MMC

-Romantic Suspense

-Rufus is back!

-She’s…inexperienced.

-Alpha Veteran MMC

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, HOLT Medallion, and the National Readers Choice Awards. A former Registered Massage Therapist, Kaylea holds a BA in anthropology and history from UBC, and a MSc in Human Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology from Durham University. She's also an avid gardener, artist, baker, osteology geek, novice rower, history buff, humpback whale enthusiast, and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and rescue pets.

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Releasee Blitz: The Sleight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart

THE SLEIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Kate Stewart

Release Date: September 29

Meet Kate Stewart:

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.

The Ravenhood Trilogy, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.

Connect with Kate Stewart:

https://katestewartwrites.com/

Blurb:

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Plight Before Christmas and The Ravenhood Trilogy comes a heartwarming, spicy, holiday themed romantic dramedy with ALL of the FEELS!

My kids are a**holes.

Yeah, I said it. I said the thing no father is supposed to say about their children, and I’ll say it again because I miss my wife.

Serena’s checked out and now resides in ‘yes dear’ robot mode, complete with a new eye twitch. Reason being, the impish elves we spawned are currently sucking the life out of her—daily. Thanks to Gracie and Peyton, my patience is hanging by the last orange bulb on a very thin green wire. Thank God we’re headed to Triple Falls. A week of Ruby’s eggnog and a little change of scenery could be just what the woman I love needs to find her way back to herself—and to me. But the closer we get to packing up, the shorter my fuse becomes . . . and the more I’m starting to get ideas of taking drastic measures.

And by drastic, I mean our little goblins won’t be the only ones making Rudolph’s naughty list. I’ve had enough. I’m not giving in this time. No amount of alligator tears or fake apologies are going to cut it.

Ironically, the more I man up and take charge, the more Serena and I are starting to reminisce about the good old days, which is quickly adding up to some heated nights.

Come hell or high water, this Christmas, our kids are going to learn to appreciate the parents they’ve got because I’m getting my girl back . . . even if the two little hellions we created have to pay to bring her back to me—little f*ckers.

The Sleight Before Christmas is book #2 in The Holiday Hijinx series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you read The Plight Before Christmas first.

Buy Link:

https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/shop/the-sleight-before-christmas-deluxe-limited-edition/

Release Blitz: Just Like That by Lena Hendrix

JUST LIKE THAT

Lena Hendrix

Release Date: September 29

Meet Lena Hendrix:

Lena Hendrix is a USA Today and Amazon Top 5 Bestselling contemporary romance author living in the Midwest. Her love for romance started with sneaking racy Harlequin paperbacks as a teenager and now she writes her own hot-as-sin small town romance novels. Lena has a soft spot for strong alphas with marshmallow insides, heroines who clap back, and sizzling tension. Her novels pack in small town heart with a whole lotta heat.

When she's not writing or devouring new novels, you can find her hiking, camping, fishing, and sipping a spicy margarita!

Want to hang out? Find Lena on Tiktok or IG!

Connect with Lena Hendrix:

https://www.instagram.com/authorlenahendrix/

Blurb:

The billionaire head of the coastal Michigan’s King family finds his position compromised by some unexpected news—and the irresistible woman who delivered it—in this spicy, deeply romantic standalone novel for fans of Lucy Score, Elsie Silver, Laura Pavlov, and Melanie Harlow.

*DELUXE LIMITED EDITION PAPERBACK featuring stenciled edges, holographic foil, designed interior covers, chapter headers, and full color special character art!*

He’s my sister’s ex, a stubborn jerk, and completely off-limits.

Getting a man to give up custody of a son he didn’t know existed should have been easy. Trouble is, nothing with JP King is ever easy.

Suave, grumpy billionaires aren’t supposed to have strong hands or filthy mouths, and I never expected our snippy banter to be so much fun.

JP regards me as something he scraped off the bottom of his dress shoe, but when this reluctant single dad looks at my nephew, there’s a softness there he struggles to keep hidden.

He may be gruff and uptight, but something simmers beneath his controlled, polished exterior. Sure, I’m wild and reckless, but when we’re forced together as guardians, everything changes.

His cold and calculated exterior melts into hushed conversations and lingering stares. The more we fight, the harder we fall.

I’m scatterbrained, unconventional, and everything he’s been missing. The closer we get, the less we understand why we were ever at odds.

. . . until just like that our lives are turned upside down.

Buy Link:

https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496761309/just-my-luck-deluxe-limited-edition/

Release Blitz: The Spare Affair by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

THE SPARE AFFAIR

Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Release Date: September 29

Meet Ella Frank:

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take,Trust, Tease, Tate, and True, and is the co-author of the fan-favorite PresLocke Series. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

Connect with Ella Frank:

https://linktr.ee/ellafrank1

Meet Brooke Blaine:

Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author best known for writing romantic comedy and M/M romance. Her novels lead with humor and heart, but Brooke never shies away from throwing in something extra naughty that will scandalize her conservative Southern family for life (bless their hearts). She’s a choc-o-holic, lives for eighties bands (which means she thinks guyliner is totally underrated), believes it’s always wine o’clock, and lives with the coolest cat on the planet—her Ragdoll/Maine Coon mix, Jackson Agador Spartacus.

Meet Brooke Blaine:

https://linktr.ee/brookeblaine1

Blurb:

Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Hating Game in this witty royal romance where two rival princes turn flirting into a competition—and accidentally fall in love.

Gabriel

Winning people over has always been my greatest talent.

One smile, one joke, one perfectly timed wink, and I have them eating out of my hand.

But I don’t think that’s going to work so well on Prince Alejandro of Solterra. The man my twin, King Nicholas Valemont, cast aside for his footman in his pursuit of true love.

Alejandro is infuriatingly handsome, impossibly stubborn, and determined to turn every conversation into a competition. Every move feels suspiciously like a trap designed to make me—the other Valemont brother—suffer.

So naturally, I decide to make a game of it.

No feelings.

No jealousy.

No falling in love.

Simple.

At least…it was supposed to be.

Alejandro

I’ve already been the world’s biggest royal headline because of a Valemont once. I have no interest in becoming one again.

Then Gabriel arrives—charming, relentless, impossible to ignore—and somehow turns every argument into flirtation and every competition into something dangerously fun.

We agree on one rule above all else: no falling in love.

It should’ve been easy.

Instead, every sharp word, every stolen kiss, every moment no one else is watching makes it harder to remember where the game ends…and where real feelings begin.

Because the most dangerous thing about competing with Gabriel isn’t losing.

It’s realizing I’d happily let him win.

Buy Link:

https://geni.us/TheSpareAffair

Available in KU

Release Blitz: In the Dark by Shain Rose

IN THE DARK

Shain Rose

Release Date: February 24

Meet Shain Rose:

Shain Rose is a USA Today and #1 best-selling author. She writes romance filled with angst, steam, and emotional rollercoasters that lead to happily ever afters.

She lives where the weather is always changing with a family that she hopes will never change. When she isn't writing, she's reading and loving life.

Connect with Shain Rose:

https://linktr.ee/shainrose

Blurb:

In a brand new, sizzling arranged marriage romance, a mafia princess is forced to marry her enemy and live with him in Paradise Grove, a billionaire's enclave filled with luxury and secrets. For fans of TL Swan, LJ Shen, and Rina Kent.

He was only supposed to be a secret fling.

A forbidden kiss stolen in the dark . . .
Not the cold-blooded monster who betrayed me.

Callahan Knight is the Diamond Syndicate’s perfect weapon with honed muscles, lethal control, and merciless loyalty. Even when taking out a rival cartel’s capo—my uncle—he doesn’t flinch. He shatters my family without hesitation, and I swear I’ll never forgive him for that.

But the Syndicate doesn’t care about my hatred. To secure their power, they demand more: A vow of marriage or watch everything we love get destroyed.

Now I’m the unwilling bride living in the luxurious prison of Paradise Grove with the man I refuse to call my soon-to-be husband. Instead, he’s the villain. Enemy number one. My tormentor . . .

But also maybe my undoing.

Because when he looks at me with the same fire we once shared, I can’t decide if I want to kill him . . . or kiss him.

Yet, I refuse to be distracted by his touch or piercing gaze. Instead, I’ll play the part, wear the ring, and say my vows all while I dig for his greatest weakness.

Because he may be the Syndicate’s deadliest weapon—

But I’m just as lethal as the monster I have to marry.

Buy Link:

Amzn US Deluxe Edition: https://amzn.to/3NhG4dH

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4ryYR2p

Available in KU

Monday, September 28, 2026

Release Blitz: Inked in Devotion by Victoria Paige

INKED IN DEVOTION

Victoria Paige

Release Date: September 28

Meet Victoria Paige:

Victoria Paige writes smart, edgy, and seductive romance.

She is a HOLT MEDALLION 2019 Finalist and specializes in crafting fast-paced and nail-biting romantic suspense. Her heroes are badass alpha males and her strong-willed heroines can hold their own against a bossy hero. Her books are steamy, emotional, and action-packed page turners.

Victoria lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and playful German Shepherd Dog, Loki.

Connect with Victoria Paige:

https://linktr.ee/vpaigebooks

Blurb:

I thought I fell for a man sent to kill me, so I kept a secret from him.

We were flawed from the start.

A weekend of hot sex. Fake names. An escape from always coming second.

He vanished from my bed, but he left a part of him with me.

Then I saw his arrest on the news—an accused serial killer.

So I ran and hid.

Over a year later, he’s a free man, absolved of his crimes.

Still a deadly man—the bratva’s vicious enforcer.