Showing posts with label Teaser Tuesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teaser Tuesday. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Teaser Tuesday: Wild Angels & Dirty Bikers by Ophelia Bee Cox

 



Erotic Biker Romance

Date Published: 08-01-2026


 


 Seven outlaws. Seven blood brothers. And the women that never saw them coming.
 
In the small town of Devil's Hollow, the Devil's Reapers rule with grit and iron loyalty. Outlaws, riders, and fighters, they've never needed anything or anyone but the roar of their engines and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood.
Each story in this steamy book follows one of the seven Reapers as fierce, undeniable attraction for a woman hits without warning. One look. One touch. One moment that changes everything. The kind of instant heat between two people that ruins them for anyone else.
The women who find their way to Devil's Hollow aren't prepared for the intensity, the danger, or the possessiveness these men bring. Neither them or the Reapers had been prepared for the fallout of finding someone who mattered.
When they do fall it's hard and fast.
In a club where loyalty and brotherhood is everything, love might be the most dangerous ride of all.


Excerpt
Jax and Lena’s Story (unedited excerpt)
 
At thirty-five, Jax was all hard muscle and scarred knuckles from years of bar fights and border runs. Back in the day when they were more of an active outlaw club and he and his brothers responded to conflict with violence. These days they tried to be more diplomatic in how they handled shit. None of them wanted to do prison time.


Up ahead, he saw hazard lights blinking on a stalled sedan that was pulled off to the shoulder, steam hissing from under the hood like a pissed-off serpent. A woman stood next to it, one hand shielding her eyes from the glare, her sundress plastered to her curves by the heat. He gaged her age to be somewhere in her mid-twenties, her honey-blonde hair tangled from the dry wind. He appreciated the tits straining against the thin fabric, and her legs that went on forever. Jax's cock twitched in his jeans as an image of how those legs wrapped around his waist while he fucked her would feel. He slowed, the bike's growl dropping to a low rumble. Fuck, look at that ass, he thought, the familiar hunger coiling low in his gut, hot and insistent.


The intensity of his reaction to her caught him by surprise.


He killed the engine twenty feet away, his boots crunching gravel as he swung off. "Car trouble, sweetheart?" His voice came out gravelly, laced with that outlaw drawl, eyes raking over her with heated interest, and without shame.
 


About the Author



Ophelia Bee Cox’s debut novel, *Wild Angels & Dirty Bikers*, will be released on 8/1/26, followed by *Lost Angels & Dirty Mountain Men* and *Sweet Angels & Dirty Cowboys*. She splits her time between Maine and Florida, is divorced, has one child, and six cats. Ophelia writes erotic romance and doesn’t hold back—if you’re not a fan of explicit sexual content and strong language, her books may not be for you.

Contact Link

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Teaser Tuesday: Tiny by Marteela Karland

 




Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: December 19, 2025

 

 

A giant of a man with a shattered soul. A mother running on fear and fury. Love isn’t even an afterthought.

 

Tiny -- Christmas meant nothing to me. Just cold nights and bad memories. Then she arrived at Haven. Penny. A woman who’s already fought her share of battles. She and her girls light up this place like the most beautiful of Christmas lights. I never thought I’d crave my own family. But watching them hang ornaments and laugh? Feels like coming home.

Penny -- I don’t believe in miracles. Not anymore. Not until I meet a man who looks like sin and loves like salvation. Tiny’s scarred, quiet, and so gentle with my girls it breaks my heart. This Christmas, we’re not running. We’re starting over. All of us. Including Tiny. One kiss, one breath, one strand of lights at a time, I will build my girls a future to look forward to. And maybe, just maybe, my own Christmas miracle can withstand the storm about to crash down on us.

 

Tiny (Kiss of Death MC 9) is a gritty, emotional, and deeply romantic story of survival, redemption, and a protective alpha hero who would burn the world down to keep his family dafe. Can be read as a standalone in the Kiss of Death MC series.

 

WARNING: Depictions of domestic abuse, violence, and strong language may be triggers for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

 



EXCERPT

 

Tiny

I ducked my head and turned slightly sideways as I stepped through the door of the large warehouse, a habit born from years of door frames too small for my frame. The club had renovated the structure several months ago because the club’s old ladies demanded the place be secured for their new project. The shelter only accepted horribly abused women deemed high risk for retaliatory violence from their abusers. We’d started calling the shelter Haven. The girls all did their best to make it a haven. It also meant men with my size weren’t exactly welcome.

I smelled fresh coffee when I stepped inside, a stark contrast to the leather and exhaust fumes that clung to my clothes. Inside, the few conversations stuttered to silence as heads turned my way. The newer people stared at me with wide eyes and a touch of fear. I was used to it. Nearly seven feet tall, shoulders wide as a doorway, with a mohawk and a beard you could lose a small animal in, I never entered a room without changing its atmosphere.

Violet spotted me from across the common area and waved me over with an enthusiastic smile. I moved carefully, each step measured, making myself as predictable as possible. Prison taught me how to move without threatening, how to exist in a space where sudden movements could get you shanked. Also taught me how to use my size to every advantage I could. Here, those same skills served a different purpose.

“Tiny, I’m glad you could make it,” Violet said, her voice warm but pitched just loud enough that others nearby could hear. Deliberate. Showing them I was expected and approved of. Safe.

“Knight asked me to check the security systems,” I replied, keeping my voice soft. When you’re my size, everything about you can intimidate, even your voice. Especially when there were young children around. It’s why I played Santa at Christmas. It helped the kids associate me with Santa so when they saw me out and about, they remembered. At least, that was my theory. It had worked pretty well last year, but the very nature of this place meant the kids didn’t stick around long. Though, I was pretty sure the old ladies had invited every mother and child who’d come through this place in the last year to the Christmas party.

As I headed to the back of the big room where the security office sat nestled off to itself, I noticed three new faces huddled on the worn sofa near the window. A woman in her mid to late twenties with light brown hair and hazel eyes sat in the corner with a book while the girls played quietly on the floor with LEGOs. All three glanced up as I neared the office door.

The girls, though they appeared to be twins, had very different stances. One with fists clenched, shoulders squared, stood to put herself slightly in front of her sister. The other girl reached for a threadbare stuffed rabbit with one missing eye, clutching it to her tightly.

I recognized the signs as clearly as if they’d been written in neon. The way the woman’s eyes darted to the exits, how she stood slowly, not making any sudden moves, to put herself between me and her daughters.

“This is Penny and her daughters, Zelda and Kira,” Violet said, gesturing toward them. “They arrived a few days ago. Penny, this is Tiny. He’s with the same club Riot’s with. They provide security for us here.”

I nodded once, not approaching. “Ma’am.”

The woman, Penny, gave me a tight smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. It was the smile of someone who’d learned to hide her true emotions.

“Tiny helps maintain our security system,” Violet continued, her voice still carrying that deliberate lightness. “And he sometimes escorts our residents when they need to go to appointments or court dates. Tiny is an amazing friend to have in those kinds of situations.”

“Yes,” Penny whispered. “I imagine he is.”

I thought Violet would move with me to the office where we could talk. Instead, she sat on the other end of the couch from Penny. There were two more couches in the area arranged in the shape of a U. Normally, I’d take a seat as far away from the women as I could, but I’d still be at a distinct height advantage even sitting down. So, I sank to the floor, sitting cross-legged with my back against the couch.

The change was immediate. I watched Penny’s shoulders relax. The girl unclenched her hands, giving me a curious look. From my position on the floor, I was still eye level with most people standing, but the psychological difference mattered.

“Knight and I updated the cameras last week,” I said to Violet, keeping the conversation normal, mundane. “But he thought one on the east side might have a small blind spot.”

Violet nodded, following my lead. “That’s the one near the service entrance, right? I noticed it seemed off when I checked the monitors yesterday.”

As we talked, I kept my peripheral vision on the small family. Though Zelda had relaxed somewhat, she still kept a wary gaze on me. Kira watched me with cautious curiosity now. She clutched her rabbit tighter, its worn fabric testament to years of comfort sought.

Then it happened. The rabbit slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor and bouncing once before settling a few feet from where I sat. The girl froze, eyes wide with alarm.

I didn’t move immediately. Instead, I telegraphed my intentions clearly. “Would you like me to get your friend for you, Kira?” My voice was soft as I addressed her directly.

The girl looked to her mother, who gave a barely perceptible nod. Only then did I slowly unfold one long arm, reaching for the toy. I kept my movements smooth and deliberate, picking it up with the gentlest grip I could manage.

I didn’t extend it toward her -- that would force her to come to me. Instead, I leaned over, stretching as far as I could, and placed the rabbit gently on the floor halfway between us, then returned to my original position.

“Thank you,” the woman, Penny, said when her daughter didn’t speak.

The moment crashed into me like a wave, dragging me back fifteen years. My sister Julie, sixteen and broken, flinching from every raised voice after what that bastard did to her. The way she’d curl into herself when men came near. The stuffed horse she’d kept since childhood that she clutched at night when she thought no one would see.

The same stuffed horse that had been torn to pieces the day I came home and found her hurt and half dead.

I blinked away the memory. That had been the worst night of my life. I think it hurt just as bad as when she died a few days later.

“Tiny’s road captain for the club. He also helps with security both here and at the clubhouse.” Violet spoke to Penny and her voice pulled me back to the present. “He’s been instrumental in setting up our security systems here.”

I shifted uncomfortably at the praise, my vest creaking again with the movement. I understood why Violet was doing it. These women needed to know I wasn’t a threat, but praise had never sat well with me. Not before prison, and certainly not after. “Just trying to help,” I mumbled, examining the tattoo on my forearm to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Tiny volunteers for most of the escort duties when our residents need to go to court,” Violet continued. “He’s been a huge help to many of the women who’ve passed through here.”

I glanced up to find Penny studying me with a careful gaze. Not fearful anymore, but assessing. I recognized that look too. She was recalculating, reshuffling whatever assumptions she’d made when I first walked in. No doubt because she knew Violet had a point. I was a big fucker. The intimidation factor alone was generally enough to keep unwanted people at a distance.

“Good to know.” Penny spoke softly, almost timidly. I got it and wasn’t insulted. I didn’t know their story, but to be here in the first place, there had to be some pretty horrific details.

The smaller girl had reclaimed her rabbit by now, holding it against her chest as she whispered something into its tattered ear. For just a moment, our eyes met, and I saw something there that squeezed my chest tight. Not fear, not anymore. Something closer to recognition.

I knew that feeling. The paradox of finding safety with someone who looked like they could crush you with one hand. I’d seen it in the eyes of younger inmates who gravitated toward me in Terre Haute, seeking protection in my shadow. It was a burden I carried willingly, both inside those walls and now here, in this shelter with its mismatched furniture and reinforced doors. I wasn’t an overly religious person, but I’d always felt God put me on this earth with my size and strength to be a protector. It had started with my sister. Now I did my best to continue as much as I could. It took a while, but I could usually prove that sometimes safety came in unexpected packages. Like a giant with a mohawk and prison tattoos, sitting cross-legged on the floor to avoid scaring a little girl and her stuffed rabbit.

That’s when I noticed the small movement at the edge of my vision. Kira, the girl I’d handed back her stuffie, had moved in my direction. The stuffed rabbit dangled from her hand as she took one cautious step in my direction, then another. Penny was distracted, talking with one of the shelter staff, but her sister had noticed. Zelda’s eyes narrowed and I could almost see the fierce protective instinct that sometimes rode me, too, envelop her. She stood but didn’t immediately hurry our way.

I remained perfectly still, not wanting to spook either of them. The girl’s approach reminded me of how stray cats would sometimes appear at the prison fences, wary and ready to bolt at the slightest provocation, but driven by some need stronger than fear. She stopped several feet away, her small fingers working nervously at the rabbit’s worn fabric. Up close, I could see the careful stitches where someone had repaired a seam, the worn spot where fur had been loved away. A well-tended comfort object. Someone cared enough to keep fixing it.

“His name is Mr. Hoppers,” she said, voice barely audible. The first words she’d spoken in my presence.

I nodded solemnly, giving the introduction the gravity it deserved. “Good name.”

She studied me with an intensity that belied her age. Not the fearful assessment I was used to, but something different. Searching. Her eyes tracked from my hands to my face, then back to my hands again.

“You have big hands,” she observed.

“Yes.”

“But you were careful with Mr. Hoppers.”

I understood then what she was doing. Testing a theory. “I try to be careful with things and people smaller than me.” I shook my head slowly. “I don’t like hurting people.”

Her head tilted slightly. “My dad has big hands too. But he breaks things.”

The simple statement hit me like a punch to the gut. I kept my expression even, though something hot and angry flared in my chest. “Some men don’t know how to be careful.”

She nodded as if I’d confirmed something important. Then, with deliberate care, she extended her arms, offering me the rabbit. The trust in that gesture staggered me. I held perfectly still, afraid that any movement might shatter this fragile moment. Then, with the same care I’d use handling a newborn, I accepted the offering, cradling the worn toy in palms that could crush a man’s skull.

“He likes you,” she said with the conviction of absolute certainty.

“I’m honored,” I replied, meaning it more than she could know.

That’s when I saw it, the recognition in her eyes. Not of me specifically, but of something in me that felt safe despite appearances. I’d seen the look often but this was the first time I could say someone making that judgment had the right of it. I could be deceptively calm. Until I wasn’t. But not with this girl. Or anyone here seeking shelter.

The moment stretched between us like a bridge, this strange connection forged in the quietest of gestures. I gently returned Mr. Hoppers to her waiting hands, and she clutched him close again, a half-smile ghosting across her face.

Then the spell broke when the very kind of man this little girl had been running from just walked into the Goddamned foyer.

“Let me in, you little bitches! I know she’s in there!” The male voice exploded from outside the main area but still inside the warehouse, followed by the sound of something hitting the front door hard enough to rattle the windows. I wasn’t certain how he’d gotten in but I knew at least two of the brothers wouldn’t be far behind him.

 

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

 

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15



RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Teaser Tuesday: Sully by Marteeka Karland

 

 


Book Title: Sully (Kiss of Death MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: November 21, 2025

 


An ex-con biker. A wild heroine. One night isn’t nearly enough.

 

Sully -- Fresh out of prison, I’m done with chaos. Whiskey, silence, and my brothers in the Kiss of Death MC -- that’s all I want or need. Until Darby storms into Throttle. She’s sharp-tongued, fearless, and dangerous as hell. She stirs trouble like it’s an art form, and I should walk away. But when she looks at me, I feel alive for the first time in years. She’s the kind of trouble that could wreck me. And I want every second of it.

Darby -- I don’t stick. Not to towns, not to people, sure as hell not to men. Stirring up chaos and disappearing before the fallout, that’s how I roll. Then Sully happens. A rough around the edges ex-con. All scars and quiet control. He should terrify me. Instead, he makes me want to stay. But staying means dragging him into the shadows I’ve been running from, and the men hunting me won’t stop until I’m gone for good.

One night was supposed to be enough. Now neither of us can let go.

 

And the danger chasing me just found us both.

 

Warning: This book contains dark themes, adult relationships and language, violence, and situations some readers may find triggering. Intended for mature audiences only.

 



EXCERPT

 

Sully

The smell of stale beer, cigarette smoke, and something I thought might be grilled onions permeated the main room of Throttle. The bar was frequented by not only members of Kiss of Death MC, but most MCs in the area. People behaved for the most part, but occasionally, the place could be counted on for a good knockdown, drag out. It was one of my favorite bars.

I stood alone at the far end of the bar where I could flag the bartender when I was empty. Right now, I nursed a double shot of Jack that burned less and less with each sip. Night had fallen an hour ago, but the place was just starting to get rowdy. The jukebox in the corner played Lynyrd Skynyrd. Someone had put Street Survivors on repeat which… I mean, great album. But if this kept up, I might have to rethink staying much longer.

Men in leather vests with patches proclaiming their club affiliation and road names hunched over pool tables in the back, cue balls cracking against each other in sharp retorts. Some of the guys had women hanging onto them. Some were trying to get rid of the women hanging on. I just wanted to get pleasantly buzzed. Made the company seem less offensive and more amusing.

I took another sip, letting the amber liquid slide down my throat. The bartender, a mountain of a man with forearms thick as my calves, wiped down the counter in mechanical circles, his eyes constantly sweeping the room for trouble. There was always trouble at Throttle. It was just a matter of when.

Then she walked in.

I didn’t recognize her, which meant she wasn’t a regular. Nobody who valued their skin wandered into Throttle without knowing what they were walking into. She wore a leather jacket that had seen better days. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy braid, revealing sharp cheekbones and a small scar that cut through her right eyebrow. It wasn’t the kind of scar you got from childhood accidents. It was the kind you earned.

She moved with a predator’s grace, weaving between tables without touching a single patron. Her boots made no sound on the scarred wood floor. I watched her scan the room as she made her way to the bar. When those eyes briefly met mine, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the watered-down Jack in my glass.

After ordering her poison, she headed straight for the dartboard hanging on the back wall, where three bikers were tossing darts with the casual disregard of men who owned the space around them. They noticed her approach, their conversation dying as she stopped at the edge of their circle. The tallest one, a bear of a man with a gray-streaked beard reaching his chest, looked her up and down with a smirk.

“Lost, little girl?” he asked, twirling a dart between thick fingers.

The woman smiled. Not a nervous smile, not an appeasing one. It was the serene smile of a shark who had spotted blood in the water and knew there were no lifeboats.

“Just looking for a game,” she replied, her voice carrying easily despite the blaring rock music. “Unless you boys are afraid to play with girls.”

The three men exchanged glances, amused by her audacity. The bearded one chuckled lightly. “You need to move on, sweetheart. The kinda playin’ we do ain’t somethin’ a sweet little thing like you could handle.”

“Look,” she said, leaning in closer to the big, bearded guy. “I’m just gonna give it to you straight. I’m broke.” She shrugged. “Flat busted. I want alcohol and a motel room, and since I don’t believe in earning my keep on my back or my knees, it’s gonna have to be darts. I’m not very good at anything else.”

“Tell you what,” Big Beard said, crossing big, beefy arms over his chest. “I’ll give you twenty bucks if you can get a dart in the inner single ring.”

“Which one is that?” She didn’t bat an eyelash as she asked her question. I held my breath, watching in rapt fascination as the girl led the three men by the balls straight into a trap I was sure they didn’t see coming. The bartender snorted as he polished a glass before turning his back to the corner.

“See the two thick circles that separate the outer part of the board and the inner part?”

“Uh-huh.” She stuck a finger in her mouth to nibble on the nail nervously.

“Well, if you can stand over there” -- he pointed to where there was a bright yellow line on the floor -- “and throw a dart that sticks in the big circle closest to the center, I’ll give you twenty bucks.”

The girl grinned. “Okay. How many shots do I get?”

The guys looked at each other before one of the others spoke. “We’ll give you three shots this time. But if you win, the next time you only get two.”

“Okay. That sounds fair.” She reached out her hand for the darts.

“Don’t you want to know what you have to give us if you lose?” The big guy spoke again. The lascivious grin on his face left no doubt what he’d demand as her payment.

“Why?” She tilted her head, looking for all the world like she truly didn’t understand his question.

“Well, we figured you’d want to know our prize if you lose. You don’t want to make a bed and not know what you’re giving up. What if I demand your house?”

She shrugged. “That’d be your bad since I don’t have a house.” She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Besides, I’m not going to lose.”

They all three chuckled again, and Big Beard handed her a dart. “Behind the line, darlin’,” he drawled. Big Beard tossed his dart first and it landed at two o’clock in the middle of the first single ring on the board. His buddies grunted in approval. “Your turn, darlin’.”

The girl complied, then shook out her arm in a big show. She took a couple practice movements, then tossed her dart. It hit inside the circle she was supposed to hit and her dart was closer to the center than Big Beard’s.

 


About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

 

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Teaser: Rattler by Anne Kane




(Riptide MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: November 7, 2025

 


Lily ran from a nightmare straight to Rattler's arms. He’s all leather, muscle and lethal promise. Dare she hope for an HEA?

 

Lily -- Abusing me was bad enough, but when my a**hole of a boyfriend threatened to shoot a tiny kitten, I brained him with a pot of spaghetti sauce and ran -- straight into the arms of the tattooed VP of the Riptide MC. He’s everything my ex isn’t, and that gives me hope. He promises to keep Scrapper and I safe, but my ex isn’t the forgiving kind. He said he would kill me if I left him and I know he’s going to come looking for revenge.

Rattler -- She might be younger than me in years, but there’s a world of experience looking out of those gorgeous eyes, and it isn’t the good kind. When she pulled a gun on me, I knew she was my kind of woman. She’s on the run from an a**hole who used her as a punching bag. He might have the local law enforcement in his pocket, but me and my brothers in Riptide have military experience, and sometimes vigilante justice is necessary.

 

Trigger Warning: This is an MC action thriller romance. It contains violence, abuse, coarse language, vigilante justice, and adult situations. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy!



EXCERPT

 

Rattler

Thor and Janet were actually going to tie the fucking knot! I suppose I should have seen it coming, but they’d been playing friends-with-benefits for so long I guess I thought that’s all they’d ever be. And now here I was -- sitting in a bakery waiting for a box of frilly wedding-type cupcakes to take back to the clubhouse for the old ladies to sample. Not sure how I got conned into playing fetch. I was happy for them and all, but you’d think they could have sent a prospect, not the fucking VP.

The bell on the door tinkled, and I looked up as a woman came in. She looked rough. More than rough. One eye was black, and through the open collar of her coat I could see a circle of greenish yellow bruises on her neck. Her clothes looked like she’d slept in them, and she had a bulging backpack slung across one shoulder. She looked young, too young to be stuck in the kind of relationship those bruises indicated.

She glanced in my direction and quickly looked away. Yeah, she was scared of something. Or more likely, someone. She walked up to the counter, and I noticed a slight limp. Probably from the same incident that gave her that black eye.

Maybe I was wrong. Ace always chided me for jumping to conclusions. She could have been in a car accident or tripped and fallen down a flight of stairs. The problem was, in my experience, that only happened once in a very long while. I’d bet my bottom dollar there were more bruises hidden under her clothes, in varying shades of blue, yellow, and purple. Evidence of an ongoing series of attacks.

Impotent assholes who beat up on their women were one of my triggers, and I looked outside to see if maybe this was my lucky day. Maybe the asshole was here with her.

She asked the woman behind the counter for a coffee, and when the lady turned to get it, she grabbed a muffin and stuffed it in her pocket. The attendant turned back and sat the cup of steaming coffee on the counter and rang in the purchase. Pulling a few bills out of her bra, the newcomer paid the bill and hurried back outside, gulping the coffee down as she went. I watched as she turned the corner and headed down the alley beside the bakery.

Standing, I strode over to the counter. Tossing a couple of bills on the counter, I smiled. “For my coffee, and the muffin you forgot to charge my friend for.”

“Your friend?” Her brows raised in disbelief.

“That’s right. She must not have seen me waiting for her. I’ll be back in a few minutes for those cupcakes.” I pivoted and strode out the door before she could ask exactly how anyone could miss seeing someone as big as me.

I turned the corner and saw the woman crouched down at the far end of the alley, petting a kitten that had its head poked out of her backpack. She gave me the side-eye as I sauntered toward her, trying to look as unthreatening as possible.

I obviously didn’t do a very good job. She waited until I was about ten feet from her, far enough away not to touch her but close enough to block the view of anyone who happened to walk past the mouth of the alley. Then she straightened up and pulled the gun out from under her shirt. She made damn sure I saw her flick the safety off.

“Don’t come near me.” She pulled the backpack a little closer as if to protect the tiny scrap of a kitten in it.

Did I seriously look like the kind of guy who’d hurt a kitten?

Apparently, she thought so. I held my hands up. “I just wanted to talk. I’m not going to harm you.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Tim send you?”

I frowned, taking in her battered appearance. “Tim the guy that did that to you?”

She didn’t answer for a moment, and the gun didn’t waver. “Fuck off.”

I had to work at not smiling. The swear words sounded cute coming out of such a tiny thing. “No, I have no fucking idea who Tim is. I just saw you come in and nick that muffin and wondered if maybe you needed a hand. I paid for the muffin, by the way, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

She snorted. “Not high on my list of worries right now.”

“Fair enough.” I gestured at the ground. “Doesn’t look all that comfortable down there. Care to come back into the bakery and we can talk?”

“Why would I want to talk to you?”

I shrugged. “I’m a nice guy. No offense, but it’s pretty obvious you’re running from someone. Maybe I can help. Do you have somewhere to go? I can offer you and your little companion there a ride.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see her calculate the odds of me being a serial killer. “I’m looking for the Riptide MC. Do you know where to find them?”

 


About the Author

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

 

Author Links

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15



RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Teaser Tuesday: Doc by Harley Wylde

 

 


(Dixie Reapers MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: October 24, 2025



When a fierce heroine collides with a hardened outlaw, secrets ignite and sparks fly.

 

Nova -- I was never a part of my uncle Bats’ outlaw MC world. He kept me far from the Dixie Reapers, convinced distance meant safety. But when my parents died in a crash I know wasn’t an accident, I walk straight into the world I’ve been shielded from, where every secret carries blood, betrayal, and danger. Each step puts a bigger target on my back, but I can’t stop. Not when the conspiracy reached higher than I ever imagined. And then there’s Doc. He’s a risk I can’t afford, no matter how much I want him.

Doc -- I patched into the Dixie Reapers for a fresh start, not to guard the 19 year old niece of a fallen brother. As a veteran and the club’s medic, I know how to fight, save lives, and bury temptation. But Nova’s stubborn, reckless, and too tempting to resist. I fell fast, and hard. Once I’ve set eyes on her, I’m not letting go. Protecting her tests me more than any battlefield ever has, but losing her isn’t an option.

Enemies circle like vultures -- dirty cops, corrupt judges, men willing to kill to silence us. Together we uncover a deadly web of human trafficking and murder. But in the outlaw world, justice comes at a cost. Nova is mine, and I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone take her.

 

If you like possessive alpha males, gritty MC romance, heart-pounding suspense, and age gap romances, you’re going to love Doc and Nova’s story!

 

WARNING: This book contains mature themes, government corruption, human trafficking, violence, and adult content. Reader discretion advised.

 


 

EXCERPT

 

Nova

 

My little Honda looked pathetic among the gleaming motorcycles, like a child who’d accidentally wandered into an adult party. I gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, as I scanned the Dixie Reapers clubhouse. Uncle Bats had always warned me to stay away from this place, from his world. But Uncle Bats was dead, and I needed answers that only his brothers might have.

The folder and notebook on my passenger seat contained everything I had left of my mother -- her research notes, newspaper clippings, and a lifetime of suspicions that had probably gotten her killed. I picked them up, clutching them to my chest like armor.

“You can do this, Nova,” I whispered to myself. “For Mom and Dad.”

I took three deep breaths, counting each one the way my therapist had taught me after the accident. Except it wasn’t an accident. I knew it wasn’t, no matter what the police report said.

Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot. Men in leather cuts moved between motorcycles, their laughter and conversations a low rumble that stopped abruptly when they noticed my car. I felt their gazes on me, assessing, suspicious.

Uncle Bats had kept me secret from them, and while I knew of the Dixie Reapers, I’d never been allowed to meet them. Now I was about to shatter that barrier. The thought sent a tremor through my hands, but I shoved the fear down deep where it couldn’t reach my face.

I stepped out of the car, my sensible flats crunching on the gravel. Five feet tall in my best shoes, I’d never felt smaller than I did walking toward that building. The folder and notebook clutched to my chest were my only shield against their stares.

“Hey, darlin’, you lost?” called one man, his tone somewhere between amused and suspicious. Tattoos covered his arms and disappeared beneath the leather vest emblazoned with the Dixie Reapers patch.

I kept walking, eyes forward, spine straight the way my mother had taught me. “Look them in the eye, Nova,” she’d say. “Don’t let them think you’re afraid, even when you are.”

The surrounding conversations died one by one, replaced by silence and the weight of two dozen stares. I could feel them taking in my brown hair, my hazel eyes, my five-foot-nothing frame that had never intimidated anyone. I probably looked like a strong wind could blow me over, but they didn’t know about the steel underneath. They didn’t know I was Mary-Jane’s daughter.

The clubhouse door loomed ahead, guarded by a mountain of a man with a graying beard and hands the size of dinner plates. His cut identified him as a full member, not just a hang-around. He stepped directly into my path, forcing me to stop or walk straight into his chest.

“Clubhouse is members only, sweetheart,” he said, voice like gravel. “Whatever you’re selling, we ain’t buying.”

Tiling my chin up, I met his gaze. “I’m not selling anything. I need to speak with whoever’s in charge.”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “That so? And what business would a little thing like you have with the Dixie Reapers?”

The men behind me had moved closer, forming a loose semicircle. I could feel them at my back, curiosity and suspicion rolling off them in waves.

“My name is Nova Treemont. I’m Bats’ niece.”

The effect was immediate. The doorman’s expression shifted from dismissive to shocked in an instant. A murmur rippled through the men behind me.

“Bullshit,” someone whispered.

“Bats never had family,” said another.

“He had a sister,” another voice said.

The doorman’s eyes narrowed, searching my face. “Bats never mentioned no niece.”

“He wouldn’t have.” I met his gaze. “He kept me out of… all this. For protection.” I gestured at the clubhouse with my free hand. “But he’s gone now, and I need help. The kind only the Dixie Reapers can provide.”

The doorman studied me for what felt like an eternity, his gaze moving from my face to the items I clutched and back again. I could almost see the gears turning behind his eyes, weighing the possibility I was telling the truth against the risk of letting a stranger into their sanctuary.

“Wait here.” He turned to enter the clubhouse.

I stood rooted to the spot, aware of the bikers still watching me. I could feel the curiosity and hostility aimed my way. I kept my breathing even, pretending I couldn’t feel their stares boring into my back.

The doorman returned a minute later, holding the door open. “Come on,” he said gruffly.

I stepped past him into a world my uncle had spent his life shielding me from. The air was thick with cigarette smoke that clung to the furniture and walls. The smell of beer and whiskey undercut everything, along with something else -- something distinctly male and dangerous.

Pool balls clacked on a table where a game paused mid-shot as players turned to stare. Behind a long bar, bottles gleamed under dim lights. Motorcycle memorabilia covered the walls -- license plates, photos.

It should have felt alien, this place my blood relation had called home. Instead, deep inside me, something whispered recognition. As if some part of me had been waiting to find this place my whole life.

The doorman nudged me forward with a hand that could have wrapped around my entire upper arm. “This way.” He guided me deeper into the clubhouse. “They’re waiting.”

I followed, clutching my mother’s research to my chest, aware that I was crossing a threshold I could never uncross. Behind me, I heard someone say softly, “Mary-Jane’s kid? Jesus Christ.”

They’d known my mother then. At least some of them had known, and they’d stayed away all these years. Just as Bats had intended.

The thought steadied me as I walked toward whatever waited ahead. I wasn’t just Nova Treemont anymore. I was Mary-Jane’s daughter, Bats’ niece. And I had questions that needed answering, no matter how dangerous the answers might be.

The back room was darker than the main area. Five men sat around a table, their faces half in shadow, their cuts marking them as the officers of the Dixie Reapers. I stood before them, a girl in jeans and a cardigan, feeling like I was facing a firing squad. But I’d come too far to falter now.

The doorman who’d escorted me in gave a brief nod to the man at the head of the table before stepping back, positioning himself in front of the closed door. Message received: I wasn’t leaving until they decided I could.

“So,” said the man at the head of the table. His neatly trimmed gray beard and dark eyes seemed sharp beneath heavy brows. The patches on his cut read, “President -- Savior.” “You claim to be Bats’ niece.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “I am Bats’ niece. My mother was Mary-Jane Treemont, his younger sister.”

A muscle in the President’s jaw twitched. “Bats was a brother to us for a long ass time. Never once mentioned a niece.”

“He was protecting me. Keeping his family separate from… this life.”

One of the other men -- younger, with a Vice President patch -- snorted. “Convenient story, sweetheart. Got any proof?”

I unzipped my bag and pulled out a small photo album, sliding it across the table. “Page three. That’s my mother and uncle at her college graduation.”

I watched as the President flipped to the page, his expression unchanging as he studied the photo of a much younger Bats with his arm around my mother.

“Could be anyone.” The VP’s tone lacked conviction.

“Check the next page,” I said. “That’s from my parents’ wedding. My mother, my father, and uncle.”

The President studied the photo longer this time before passing the album to the man next to him. It made its way around the table, each man taking a moment to examine the proof of a side of Bats they’d never known.

“So you’re his niece.” The President slid the album back across the table. “What do you want from us?”

I took a deep breath and placed my folder on the table. “My parents died several weeks ago in what was ruled a car accident. Their car went off the road. Police said my father lost control.”

“And you don’t believe that.” The VP watched me with narrowed eyes.

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t. My mother was an investigative journalist. She was working on a story.” I opened the folder, spreading out newspaper clippings and photocopied notes across the scarred wood. “She was investigating connections between Magnolia County officials and organized crime. Money laundering, illegal gambling, possibly human trafficking.”

The men exchanged glances, their expressions giving nothing away. I’d honestly expected some sort of reaction, especially since this was happening in their territory. My uncle had always been clear that while he may be an outlaw, some things weren’t tolerated.

“Three days before she died, she called me,” I continued. “She said she’d found something big. Something that would blow the whole thing wide open. She wouldn’t tell me details over the phone, said she’d show me everything when they came to visit that weekend.” My voice cracked slightly. “They never made it.”

I pulled out a copy of the police report, pointing to highlighted sections. “The accident report says the car was traveling at high speed, that my father lost control. But my father never drove fast. He was cautious, meticulous. And the witness statements are vague. No one actually saw the car go off the road.”

“Accidents happen.” An older member with a gray ponytail watched me intently. “Doesn’t mean someone killed your parents.”

I met his gaze directly. “After the funeral, our house was broken into. Nothing valuable was taken, but my mother’s home office was ransacked. Her computer was gone. All her files.”

That got their attention. The men straightened, exchanging glances that spoke volumes.

“I managed to salvage these.” I gestured to the documents on the table. “She kept backups in a safety deposit box. But it’s not everything. There are references to evidence she had that I can’t find.”

The President leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “And what exactly do you expect us to do about this, Ms. Treemont?”

“I’ve tried the legal route,” I said. “I’ve been to the police, the FBI, even a private investigator. No one will touch it. The case is closed.” I swallowed hard. “My uncle –Bats -- once told my mother that if she ever needed help, real help, she should come to his brothers. That you take care of your own.”

“Bats said that?” The VP’s eyebrows raised.

“He did,” I confirmed. “And with him gone, you’re all I have left.”

The President’s eyes were unreadable as he studied my face. “You understand what you’re asking? If what you’re saying is true, you’re talking about going up against powerful people. The kind that can make a car accident happen.”

“I know.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “But they killed my parents. They’ve been watching me too. Cars following me home. Strange calls. Last week someone broke into my apartment.” I pulled up my sleeve, revealing a jagged raw wound on my forearm. “I surprised him. He had a knife.”

That drew a low curse from one of the men who hadn’t spoken yet.

“Before she died, my mother dug into something dangerous -- something big enough to get her killed. These bastards still tried to bury it, but I swore I’d drag the truth into the light and make them pay.” My gaze cut across the table, meeting each man’s eyes in turn. “Justice for my parents is the only thing that matters.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of the main room beyond the door.

Finally, the President gathered up my mother’s papers, tapping them into a neat stack. “Wait outside.”

The doorman stepped forward, opening the door for me. I hesitated, reluctant to leave my mother’s research behind.

“We’ll return these,” the President said, seeing my hesitation. “Go on now.”

I had no choice but to comply. The doorman escorted me back to the main room, indicating a worn leather couch against the wall. “Sit tight.”

I perched on the edge of the couch, feeling the weight of curious stares from the men scattered around the room. No one approached me, but I could hear the whispers.

“… Bats’ niece…”

“… Mary-Jane’s kid…”

“… looks just like her mother…”

That last comment made me look up sharply, trying to identify who had spoken. An older member nodded at me from the bar, raising his beer bottle slightly. “Knew your mama when she was younger than you. Bats always said she was the smart one in the family. Said she could sniff out a lie from a mile away.”

A lump formed in my throat. I’d never heard anyone talk about my mother like that, like they’d known her personally. “Did you know her well?”

The man shrugged. “Well enough. Your uncle always spoke highly of her investigative skills. Said she could’ve been FBI if she hadn’t been so damn stubborn about working outside the system.”

That sounded like my mother. And it sounded like something Uncle Bats would say.

I sat straighter, hope kindling in my chest for the first time since I’d arrived. Maybe they would help me after all. Maybe I’d finally get the answers I’d been seeking for several weeks.

I just had to convince them I was worth the risk.

I traced the edge of my mother’s notebook with my fingertip, counting the seconds that stretched into minutes. The leather couch beneath me had seen better days, cracked and worn by years of men larger than me shifting their weight. Around the room, bikers pretended not to watch me while doing exactly that. I wondered if Uncle Bats had sat here, on this very couch, planning runs or celebrating victories I’d never know about.

My gaze drifted to a wall of photos near the bar -- men in Dixie Reapers cuts, arms slung around each other’s shoulders, grins splitting their bearded faces. I rose slowly, drawn to search for my uncle’s face among them. A few members tensed as I moved, but none stopped me.

There he was. Younger, with fewer lines around his eyes, his arm thrown around another member, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him during his rare visits to our home. He’d always been on edge around us, as if expecting trouble to follow him through our door.

Now I understood why.

“He was a good man,” said a voice behind me.

I turned to find the older member who’d spoken to me earlier, the one who’d known my mother.

“One of our best,” he continued. “Loyal to the bone.”

“But not loyal enough to tell you about his family,” I said softly.

The old biker’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. “That was his loyalty to you, girl. Keeping you separate. Safe.” He nodded toward the back room. “Not many of us manage that trick.”

Before I could respond, the door to the back room opened. The President emerged, followed by the others. The room fell silent as they approached.

“Ms. Treemont,” the President said, his voice carrying across the now-quiet clubhouse. “We’ve discussed your situation.”

I returned to the couch, perching on its edge, hands folded in my lap to hide their trembling. “And?”

“Bats was our brother.” The President spoke in a measured voice, choosing each word with care. “That carries weight. But what you’re asking involves the club in what appears to be a personal vendetta against powerful people, based on circumstantial evidence.”

My heart sank. “It’s not just --”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t help. I said you’re asking a lot.”

Hope flickered back to life in my chest.

“We’ll hear you out,” he continued. “Review what you’ve brought us. But I can’t promise involvement beyond that. Understand?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” His expression remained stern. “This isn’t a democracy. I make decisions based on what’s best for the club, not for outsiders -- even ones with Bats’ blood.”


About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

 

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15



RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser Tuesday: Early Snow by Kevin Wolf

 




Mystery
Date Published: 11-15-2025

Odyssey Pruit paints pictures of the ghosts and spirits she saw in the halls of an old hotel where she worked ten years before. GUY HOGAN doesn’t believe in ghosts. Hogan is hired to guard Odyssey’s pictures for her first art show in the same old hotel. When an early blizzard closes the roads, knocks out the power and telephone, Hogan is trapped in the hotel with Odyssey’s quirky fans. When imps and ghouls make their presence known, Hogan questions his doubts, and the answer could be murder.


Excerpt


Opening Scene

By noon, the autumn sky had turned from blue to the color of road asphalt.  Treetops bent in the winds funneling into the canyon from the high peaks.  Stray snowflakes splattered the windshield, turned into tiny droplets, and in an instant were gone.  
My best friend and new boss, Dalton Cummings, pulled his pick-up into a parking spot at the back of the big, white hotel and killed the engine.  “The truck with the paintings is supposed to be here in about an hour.”  He pulled up the sleeve of his flannel shirt and checked his Timex for the tenth time.  “We’ll leave our gear in the pickup.  I’ll let the hotel manager know we’re here.  You see if you can find,”--He snatched a clipboard from the dashboard and flipped through the pages–-“damn it, I can never remember her...”         
“Porsche Hurt,” I told him.  “Porsche.  Like the car.  Hurt, like ouch.” 
“That’s one of those damn made-up New York City names if I’ve ever heard one.  Her folks never gave it to her.”
“You’ve said that before.”  Then it hit me.  I held back the smile.  “I know what’s going on.  Ex-game warden Dalton Cummings is nervous about his first paying job since retirement.  What could it be?”  I enjoyed the edge I had over my friend.
Cummings turned toward the window.  His breath painted a gray haze on the glass.
 “Let me guess.”  I wanted to see his face, but he wouldn’t turn back.  “The man who fought forest fires, rescued lost campers, and saved fish and wildlife for generations to come is afraid of a New York woman.”
“That ain’t it.”
“Then what?” 
He shook his head, and the brim of his Stetson left a mark on the fogged window.  “I don’t like hotels,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Hotels.”  He clamped both hands on the steering wheel.  “I’d rather be in my own bed.”  He stared straight ahead.  “I do fine in a sleepin’ bag in the backcountry.  But there’s somethin’ about a little old mint on a fluffy pillow and turned-down sheets that makes me all crawly.”  He shook like he was cold.  “It’s all too fancy.”
“Don’t worry.” I bit back a laugh. “It’s just two nights.  You probably won’t get any sleep anyway.” I couldn’t resist adding one more thing.  “The ghosts will keep you awake.”
Cummings jerked up on the door handle and glanced sideways at me.  He raised his middle finger.  “Screw you, Hogan.” 


About the Author


Kevin Wolf is an award-winning Mystery and Western author. His books include Trailridge (2024), The Homeplace, winner of the 2015 Tony Hillerman Prize and the 2016 Strand Critics Award finalist for Best Debut Mystery. His short story Belthanger received the 2021 Spur Award for Best Short Fiction and his novel, The Bootheel was a 2024 Peacemaker Award finalist.


The legends and landscape of the West are evident in everything he writes. His newest novel, Trailridge, is set against the grandeur of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood. Those who visit Rocky often or have chosen the national park for their once-in-a-lifetime destination will recognize the mountains, valleys, rivers, and the twists and turns of Trailridge as this story races to its climax.In The Homeplace, a schoolboy hero returns after sixteen years to solve a murder in a windswept, dying town on the eastern plains of Colorado. In his short story Belthanger, readers are given a glimpse of a 1950s small town, soon to be bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System, and the drama that unfolds on the town’s darkened streets one night. The BootHeel is a coming-of-age tale of a teenage orphan and an aging gunman as they follow a treasure map into Mexico as the nineteenth century draws to its end.


Kevin Wolf is a member of Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and serves as Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. He facilitates a weekly critique group for other writers. The great-grandson of Colorado homesteaders, he enjoys fly fishing, old Winchesters, and almost every 1950’s Western movie. He lives in Estes Park, CO with his loving and patient wife.

Contact Links


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Teaser: Venetta by Jamie Targaet

 

 


Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense

Date Published: October 10, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press



They betrayed me. They tried to sell my woman. But I’m the man they couldn’t kill. Now I’m the darkness coming for them.

Dylan -- I thought I could handle my uncle’s world. I thought if I kept my head down and stayed quiet, I could survive with the help of the mysterious man who’d slipped into my bed like a secret I didn’t want to question. But one night everything shattered. My uncle Eli handed me off to a trafficker like I was nothing, and the man I trusted turned out to be the ghost Eli thought he’d left hanging in the woods -- the man who would kill to keep me safe.

Vendetta -- I used to be Tank, proud to wear the Cottonmouth patch, until I spoke out against the rot our so-called leaders let poison our MC. They hung me for it. I crawled out of my grave and took a new name. Now I’m back to burn the criminal empire infecting Oak Grove, and the Cottonmouths that invited it in, to the ground.

Dylan was never supposed to be part of the plan. Hell, she’s the niece of the man who betrayed me. But I’ll die before I let him hurt her again. And when Eli and his men try to finish what they started, they’ll see I’m not the same man they tried to bury.

 

Warning: Vendetta is intended for readers 18+ due to explicit adult content, violence, and bad language. There’s no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA.

 


EXCERPT

 

Dylan

Ned’s Sundown Lounge looked rougher in the light of day than it ever did at night.

Dylan Crizer waited across the street with her keys clenched in her hand, taking it all in. The building looked old, dressed in faded black brick. The same flickering neon sign that barely spelled the word “Open” was still there. She remembered it from passing by that building as a child. The tinted windows smeared with fingerprints and smoke stains were new. While the building wasn’t falling apart just yet, it had clearly seen better days. Maybe better decades.

Yeah, it was as bad as her Uncle Eli had said it was. It blew her mind that he was now co-owner of the bar that had been there most of her life. Eli Crizer was a big bad biker, president of the Cottonmouths and all that, but he’d never been well-off before. How did a biker get that kind of money? Did he dip into his retirement account? Did he even have one of those?

Not long after she returned to Oak Grove, she found out her uncle had bought the place with a “business associate.” How did he get a business associate? The place had always fascinated her, so when she saw the ‘help wanted’ sign in the window, she marched herself in and applied right away. Not surprisingly, her uncle, who hadn’t made time to reach out to her so far, called her the same day about her application.

“It’s not the place for you, Dylan,” he said right off the bat. When she asked why, he countered with, “It’s gonna be full of drunks, ex-cons, and worse.”

She thought the fact that she’d been a waitress for years would guarantee her the job. She had bartender experience too, although she wasn’t the best at making drinks consistently good in a rough environment. Her uncle didn’t agree. “You’re a Crizer. You’re better than serving drinks to scummy people.”

But here she was anyway. Not just because she had something to prove. She now had something to rebuild. Her entire life basically. Maybe she wouldn’t be starting a new job today; Eli as a co-owner could cut her off. But she had to try.

Dylan spent five years with a man who couldn’t commit and didn’t want her to grow. Five years pretending she was happy in a dead-end relationship in Richmond. When she left him and the city, she made up her mind that she’d come back to Oak Grove and figure it out from the ground up. She’d start over. Hell, she was only twenty-five. She had time.

She was starting over right here at Ned’s Sundown Lounge.

Pushing through the front door, Dylan blinked as her eyes adjusted to the low light inside the bar. The entire place smelled of old leather, cheap whiskey, and stale beer. It appeared to be well stocked and mostly clean despite all the scuff marks and the sticky spots along the floor. The tables were roomy and spaced out well around its central dance floor. A narrow hallway led off in the direction of the restrooms and the back offices. Ned’s Sundown Lounge had its own unique charm. If you squinted.

“Good afternoon,” came a voice from behind the bar. A tall, older woman with a sharp jaw and leopard-print eyeglasses worked at polishing glasses, watching Dylan with a smile. “You must be Eli’s niece.”

“Dylan,” she said, stepping up to the bar. “Here for my first day.”

At least she hoped she was. If Eli told them she couldn’t work there, what would she do? She really needed the job and had already told him that.

“I’m Peggy,” the woman said in the way of introduction as she gave her a once-over and nodded like she approved of what she saw. “You got the job. Just stay aware and don’t take shit from anyone. Even the regulars. You’ll be fine.”

Dylan didn’t hesitate. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Come on.” Peggy put the last glass she polished on the bar and motioned for Dylan to follow her.

Down that narrow hallway and to the left was a line of really old lockers outside the business offices. All of them had huge padlocks, protecting the personal items the employees wanted to tuck away. Just one, at the far end, had a small key stuck in the bottom of its padlock. Peggy pointed to that one.

“There’s only one key,” Peggy warned. “If you lose it, you’re responsible for getting a new lock, okay?”

Dylan nodded, tucking her purse into the locker and securing it with the padlock before sliding its tiny silver key into the front pocket of her jeans.

Peggy jerked a thumb in the opposite direction. “The kitchen is that way. There’s not a lot of menu options to memorize. Burgers, fries, nachos. I think they have chili a couple of times a week. None of it is that great.”

Good to know. Pulling the hair tie from her wrist, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she followed the woman back through the bar, taking in every corner as she went. Dylan was many things but naive wasn’t one of them.

Her Uncle Eli had influence here and he led a shady biker club. And now he was a co-owner of this place. People didn’t just “run bars” these days. Bars were often covers for other things. More shady shit. She’d left a couple of bars after learning they were running drugs out of them. The second one had a full police raid one night and it took hours for it to be cleared up so everyone could go home. She never returned because drugs were dangerous and brought dangerous people. No job was worth putting herself in the line of fire.

But until she had proof that something wasn’t right here at her uncle’s bar, she was going to do the damn job. Unfortunately, she needed the money to get back on her feet.

Smile. Hustle. Listen. It had been her mantra since her first job in a bar.

Peggy looked to be somewhere in her forties. She had a no-nonsense attitude that had to come in handy in a place as rough as this. “House rules. Keep the regulars’ drinks full and staff are not allowed to talk politics. Or religion. People don’t want to think about religion when they’re drinking and partying, you know? The jukebox plays when it fucking wants to, so no beating it or kicking it. If Ned’s here and he sees you do it, he’ll lose his mind.”

“Who’s Ned?” Dylan asked.

“The other co-owner,” Peggy replied. “Try not to piss him off, even if you are Eli’s family.”

“Understood,” Dylan said.

“Now, if a fight breaks out and there’s usually one each fucking week,” Peggy explained, “don’t be a hero. Just try and get clear and wave down one of the bouncers. We usually have at least two of them scheduled each night. It’s not a bad idea to check the schedule. It’s on the whiteboard with the lockers. See who’s on duty each night so you know who you’re looking for.” She jerked her chin in the direction of the far end of the bar.

Dylan followed her gaze to the two huge guys leaning against the back wall near the hallway, perfectly still and silent. One of them was built like a refrigerator with tattoos creeping up both sides of his neck. The other looked mean even though he wasn’t actively trying to at that moment. He was leaner with an angular face and a body you could only get from hours each week in the gym. The gym rats were hit-or-miss as bouncers. Dylan would be willing to bet money that the fridge was the one to flag down in a fight.

“They don’t talk much, but they move fast, let me tell you. If some shit goes down, make eye contact, give a nod, and then get out of the way. Got it?”

“Got it,” Dylan said, scanning the room as Peggy handed her an apron and a notepad. “Is there a panic button or something? I’ve worked in other places that had them.”

Peggy snorted. “This ain’t Applebee’s, sweetheart. You see something coming, you move. Fast.”

It wasn’t the serious lack of formal safety protocols that raised Dylan’s eyebrows. It was the way Peggy said it, like fights weren’t just a possibility, they were expected. Like there was a rhythm to them and they were allowed. She nodded and kept listening, but something about that rubbed her wrong.

“Most of our business is on the weekends, of course, but the VIPs come in all during the week,” Peggy went on, already moving back to the bar to stock napkins in old-fashioned metal boxes. “You’ll know them when you see them. They don’t tip, but don’t piss them off. Eli likes to keep them happy.”

Dylan paused, notebook in hand. “VIPs?”

“Locals. Out-of-towners. Some are from his MC. Doesn’t matter,” Peggy said, without looking up. “You serve what they order and stay out of their conversations. That’s not me being rude. That’s me keeping you employed.”

The words hit her like a warning. Something about all of it, the emphasis, the look in Peggy’s eyes, the way she didn’t offer names made Dylan’s stomach tighten as she kept listening, wondering what else she was going to hear. Nodding, she filed it all away and forced a smile.

“Thanks for showing me the ropes,” Dylan said. “I appreciate it.”

Peggy finally looked at her, a long, assessing stare. Then she shrugged. “You’ve got the eyes for this place. You watch everything. That’s good. Just make sure you don’t watch too closely, yeah?”

Dylan didn’t answer. But she was definitely paying attention.

“One last thing.” Peggy spoke quietly. “You’re one of the owner’s family members which probably means you’d have to really fuck up to get fired. But just keep in mind, you’re still expendable.”

“I’ll do my best to remember that.”

The evening crowd was light, just as Peggy explained it would be. It was Thursday night, and Ned’s Sundown Lounge always did look better at night. The dim lighting and the fact that the sun had already set, covered the bar’s many imperfections better than paint ever could. The jukebox was working tonight, playing songs that were moody and lazy, and they filled the space without drawing attention.

The regulars were easy to spot, planted on barstools like fixtures, beers in front of them. Some of them talked to each other in low voices, some were there on their own. Dylan had just finished clearing one of her tables when the cool night air blew a newcomer through the front doors.

Dylan glanced up and paused.

The newest patron was tall and built. She didn’t think she’d seen him before. That didn’t necessarily mean anything. She was just back in town after having been gone several years.

The man who just walked in didn’t look like a local. Six-four, easy, with broad shoulders under a worn jean jacket and a dark hoodie that had definitely seen better days. His long dark hair was pulled back low at the neck, and a beat-up baseball cap shadowed most of his face. Not that it helped much. He was fine and pretty hard to miss.

Dark eyes scanned the room once, slow and deliberate. He didn’t come across as cocky, just aware. Like he was used to being in places where trouble could find him in a hurry. When his gaze finally landed on her, it lingered for half a second longer than it needed to. Not creepy or flirty. Maybe interested.

Dylan straightened and stepped behind the bar, already reaching for a clean glass. But the new guy didn’t sit at the bar like most of them. No, he picked out a booth near the back, one that gave him the best line of sight on both the bar’s exits.

Shit, they really must have fights often here.

Dylan clocked that and noticed how relaxed his movements were. Like someone trained not to draw attention but fully capable of handling it if he had to.

She walked over with a notepad in hand, smiling when his gaze met hers. “You look like a bourbon guy,” she said by way of greeting.

“It depends on who’s pouring,” he said, voice deep and gravel smooth.

 

About the Author

Jamie Targaet is the author of the Hounds of Hell MC. She's anxious to introduce you to this club of gorgeous, dominant men and the lucky women who surrender to them. The ride is going to get wild at times, not going to lie. But there's thrilling action, scorching hot sex scenes, and all the feels.

Jamie writes erotic romance for Changeling Press, a little fanfiction on the side, and she's an aspiring horror writer in another life. She enjoys time with her family (including the fur babies). She likes good horror movies and shows, emo metal and classic rock, and time spent in other worlds writing and reading. She loves hearing from readers and is looking forward to hearing from you.


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RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Teaser Tuesday: Scenes From A Song by Susan Sloate

 




Music Fiction

Date Published: 09-30-2025

Publisher: Covfefe Press


 


 For anyone who's ever said, "They're playing my song!"


 
On Halloween Eve, 1961, in his dingy Bronx walkup apartment, seventeen-year-old Jimmy Welton hears the opening notes of a song in his head. Jimmy’s still mourning his firefighter father, who taught him to play the guitar but recently died in a house fire, leaving his family destitute. Jimmy takes this song, about all he misses from his life now, to the New York amusement park where he works after school. There, he meets Mark Morgan, a rebellious teen with his own band, who eventually invites Jimmy to join them. And the rest is rock'n roll history...
The GooseBumps become a worldwide phenomenon, and the songs they write and sing together become the backbone of rock musical history. And the song Jimmy first heard on Halloween, "Wrapped in Gauze", becomes the song that not only comforts him in that terrible time but also comforts others: Victoria, recently divorced and dealing with an unthinkable family tragedy; Carolyn, whose final flippant words to someone in pain can't be taken back; and Jack, battling back from unimaginable loss with the help of his cheeky therapist and a song he thinks he hates.


 
SCENES FROM A SONG is the story of a song that makes us smile, that breaks our hearts, that stays with us forever, and the very special band that started it all.



Excerpt

Mark went on, “Jimmy’s got a great new song we hope you’ll get up and dance to. It’s so new, we’re playing it here for the first time. I don’t even know it!”
     The audience chuckled—they clearly liked Mark—but Jimmy was suddenly nervous as Mark swung the microphone toward him. They’d liked the first songs, and Jimmy had kept up fine with Kellen on guitar, but he and Mark hadn’t sung harmony yet, and the new song that Mark had generously allotted lead to him wasn’t coming up till later. He had to put “Bawk Bawk” over.
     He took a deep breath and stepped up to the mike, trying to sound reassuring and confident. “Hi, folks. This is new, and, well, we hope you like it. It’s a dance song, and we’ll do all the moves up here, and you can just follow us. The song is called ‘Bawk Bawk’.”
    He did the four-count lead-in and Kellen came in behind him, with Mark backing him up. Hammy bashed out a steady rhythm, and Jimmy launched into the vocal, trying to pump up the energy with exuberant gestures. He strutted, he clucked, he waved, he pumped his elbows together like a chicken.
     The audience just about died laughing.
     No one clapped. No one stomped their feet. No one got up and danced.
     But they did laugh their heads off, all the time Jimmy was singing. They laughed so much they could hardly hear the vocal, though he kept going doggedly till the end. He remembered to do the high whistle and the click of his heels, and when he bobbed his head like a chicken for the final notes, the audience all but fell out of their seats. Jimmy began to feel like a fool.
     Hammy played the last beats on the drums, and Kellen finished strumming his guitar with a flourish.
     As the last notes died away, Jimmy gave an embarrassed nod to the audience. They finally stopped laughing.
     They began to clap.
     They began to cheer.
  In a moment, the room was echoing with stomping feet and yelling patrons.

 

About the Author


 


 SUSAN SLOATE is the author or co-author of more than 25 published books. This includes 3 editions of Forward to Camelot, a time-travel thriller about the JFK assassination that became a #6 Amazon bestseller, was honored in 3 literary competitions and was optioned by a Hollywood company for film production. She also wrote the autobiographical Broadway novel Stealing Fire, which became a #2 Amazon bestseller and Hot New Release, and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre: the self-help novel.


Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’s biography Ray Charles: Find Another Way, which won the silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led to her 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest for The History Channel. She has also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, edited the popular Kyle & Corey young-adult book series, managed two political campaigns and founded an author’s festival to promote student literacy in her hometown outside Charleston, SC. She has appeared in multiple volumes of WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT and WHO’S WHO AMONG AMERICAN WOMEN.


Contact Links
Twitter: @Susan_Sloate
 




RABT Book Tours & PR