Dangerous games. Kill or be killed. Can she survive a king’s ruthless arena?
Clarissa craves an escape. An orphan forced into criminal acts with other kids by their caretaker, she longs to break free and become a healer. But when an archenemy provokes a deadly confrontation, the seventeen-year-old awakens hidden powers in an explosive and fiery defense.
Seized by soldiers and taken to the capital along with her only friend, Clarissa trains alongside other slaves to fight in the royal army. But surrounded by mysterious strangers and running low on trust, the desperate captive fears graduation day will be her last.
Is Clarissa destined to die in chains?
Rising Ember is the thrilling first book in the Forbidden Chronicles YA dystopian fantasy series. If you like strong-willed heroines, nail-biting drama, and clean slow-burn romance, then you’ll love Sara Wright’s action-packed adventure.
Buy Rising Ember to ignite destiny today!
**Get signed & special editions with maps, bookmarks & sprayed edges at Sara’s Store!**
Excerpt: The Moment Everything Changes for Clarissa
Instead of reaching for my daggers, a molten heat surges beneath my skin, erupting from my outstretched hands in a blinding flash of light as I shoot a tremendously bright fireball at Abby. The group of friends scream as they duck, dropping Luna, and the flames smash into the wall of the tavern behind them, catching it on fire.
I’m frozen in place as I watch the tavern burn.
What did I just do?
About the Author
Sara Wright is the author of The Progenitor Chronicles and Forbidden Chronicles, a YA dystopian fantasy series packed with rebellion, elemental powers, and clean slow-burn romance.
She currently lives on Earth, her favorite vacation planet, with her husband and their very opinionated fur baby. But most days, she’s off exploring shattered kingdoms, star-spanning civilizations, and the occasional multiverse with her lifelong companions: Imagination and Creativity.
Raised on bedtime stories and fueled by a steady diet of fantasy, sci-fi, and a sweet topping of romance, Sara now writes tales for readers who crave action, heart, and hope. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cycling, hiking, or singing dramatically to songs she swears are soundtracks to her books.
A fast-paced techno thriller that brings a gripping conclusion to the E&A Investigations series as Mari Ellwyn faces her past, her nemesis, and a web of high-stakes crimes.
Switch
E&A Investigations Book 3
by Lisa Towles
Genre: Mystery Crime Thriller, Suspense
A body vanished from the morgue. A coastal town gripped by bank heists.
The only link is a past that someone will kill to keep buried.
In Book 3 of the E&A Investigations series, Mari Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy return to track a string of unsettling bank robberies. Their case takes a dark turn with the bizarre disappearance of a body from the local morgue, a mystery connected to the vanishing of the previous Medical Examiner, Dr. Camille Bota. Their investigation plunges them into the dangerous world of a multi-national organization involved in suspected fraud and fringe technology research. For Mari, the case ignites a personal quest, forcing her to confront the long-unresolved disappearance of her father, CIA operative Richard Ellwyn.
The deeper she digs, the more Mari realizes that both she and her father are inextricably linked to their lifelong nemesis, the notorious international crime boss Jacques Martel. The missing body and the secrets surrounding Dr. Bota become entangled with her father’s shadowy past and Martel’s deadly machinations. In a high-stakes collision of family secrets and criminal enterprise, Mari must confront her father and their shared enemy before they both become casualties in Martel’s lethal game.
REVIEWS:
“A taut, high-intelligence thriller with real emotional teeth…” – The Prairies Book Review
Fast-paced, smart, and full of twists, this is a thriller that delivers both heart and heat.” —Scott Olsen, San Francisco Book Review
“A breakneck techno-thriller that crackles with smart dialogue, raw emotion, and relentless tension.” – Literary Titan
This exhilarating, action-infused crime thriller deftly incorporates suspense with harrowing drama to keep readers turning the pages. – The Book Commentary
“This book is an intricate, immersive, and riveting thriller, with plenty of surprising twists and turns.” — Readers’ Choice
In the heart-pounding international thriller Salt Island, Mari Ellwyn, a former-CIA private investigator, finds herself thrust into a perilous world of high-stakes corporate espionage and ecoterrorism. As her newly formed partnership with Derek Abernathy is put to the ultimate test, Mari faces a daunting challenge that forces her to confront powerful ghosts from her past.
When billionaire CEO Jack Darcy’s reputation and IPO deal are under threat, Mari finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, lies and corporate fraud. The disappearance of Jack’s glamorous wife, coupled with the unraveling of a dark secret within his esteemed environmental startup, leaves Mari with unanswered question and a thirst for Justice.
While Mari’s partner Derek goes undercover to investigate a series of suspicious deaths on a local farm in California’s Central Valley, Mari grapples with the haunting truth about her missing father—a man with a double identity and secret agenda. Determined to uncover the depths of her father’s involvement with her case, Mari embarks on a solo journey to the British Virgin Islands, a hidden Caribbean refuge that holds the key to her own identity and future.
With Derek gone and time running out, Mari must decide whether to risk everything to uncover the truth or succumb to the powerful forces that seek to bury it forever. Get your copy of Salt Island now and brace yourself of a relentless rollercoaster. Secrets can’t stay buried forever, but now Mari is alone, exposed and fighting for her survival.
What readers are saying about the award-winning Salt Island:
“An often engaging tale of money, danger, and family.” – Kirkus
“An intricate, gorgeously written, character-driven page-turner with some shocking twists.” – Prairies Book Reviews
“An intoxicating read, hugely entertaining.” – The Book Commentary
“An exceptional thriller and a riveting work of espionage, wrongdoing, and discovery.” – Midwest Book Review
Who killed Sophie Michaud? Stay up all night reading this award-winning psychological thriller that has readers obsessed.
Shot in the line of duty, ex CIA operative Mari Ellwyn is again chasing adrenaline, when she reinvents herself as a private investigator on a quest to find the killer of college student Sophie Michaud. Every door Mari opens proves to be more perilous than the last, but she’s hell bent on bringing the killer to justice—for Sophie, students, and all women.
Teaming up with seasoned investigator and former detective, Derek Abernathy, the crime-savvy pair discover Sophie’s journal, which is filled with names and controversial secrets—listed among them is Mari’s own father.
What secrets was Sophie hiding?
As they connect the dots leading to Sophie’s death, the blackmailing of a federal judge, and Mari’s own family, Sophie’s murderer is closing in for the next kill. Facing an adversary like none she’s ever experienced before, Mari must find her missing father and reconcile her broken past before she becomes the killer’s next victim.
A multiple award-winning novel, Hot House is a page-turning psychological thriller packed with tension, secrets, suspense, and surprises. If you like Blake Crouch, Harlan Coben, and Lisa Gardner, discover Lisa Towles’ E&A Series today.
First Place Winner of The Book Fest 2022 Literary Award, Mystery & Crime category
Literary Titan Gold Award for Fiction
Escape into this devious mind mystery by getting your copy of Hot House now, so you can solve the puzzle of who killed Sophie Michaud.
“Memorable characters make for a winsome, absorbing detective tale.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Towles does a fantastic job of pacing the storyline so that the reader hangs on to every clue… I recommend this for fans of crime fiction writers Baldacci, Slaughter, and Gardner.” San Francisco Book Review
“Award-winning author Lisa Towles delivers again and again with her gripping thrillers…” Sarah Lovett, Bestselling author
“The plot is propelled forward by the clever use of suspense, measured action, and ingeniously written conflict. It is a moving and delightful read with cinematic scenes and characters that will stick with readers for a long after they turn the last page.” – The Book Commentary
“Hot House is an intricate maze of blackmail, surprise and suspense delivered by quirky characters, pithy dialog and LOL humor. Another hit by my favorite thriller writer, Lisa Towles.” – Ana Manwaring
“Fans of investigative thrillers and mysteries will be the audience for Hot House, but its ability to craft a sassy, fun series of dialogues and inspections… creates an exceptional read with a powerfully unexpected conclusion... This will attract audiences both within and beyond the thriller and mystery genres.” – Midwest Book Review
“Towles has produced a knockout novel with Hot House. Towles’s plot is as twisted and unpredictable… Nowhere will thriller fans find a more engaging keep-you-on-your-toes read.” – Literary Titan
“This meticulously constructed, remarkable mystery deftly explores people’s darkest flaws while revealing hard truths about the hidden workings of the world. A fast-paced and psychologically astute thriller.” Prairies Book Review
“Hot House is one of those books that pries your eyelids open and doesn’t relent until you’ve reached the end. Good luck getting Mari out of your head!” – Benjamin Bradley
Lisa Towles is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and Strategic Self Care.
Lisa has 11 crime novels in print with her newest title Specimen freshly released in November 2024. The first two books of her E&A Investigations Series (Hot House and Salt Island) were both #1 Amazon Kindle Bestsellers.
Lisa also writes standalone thrillers, such as her 2022 political thriller, The Ridders, which won an American Fiction Award. Lisa is an active member and frequent panelist/speaker of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry.
Three elder stateswomen in the music industry, scarred by scandal, addiction, and forced retirement, go all in to create a killer comeback album.
Wild Flowers
by Merie Robie
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Three elder stateswomen in the music industry, scarred by scandal, addiction, and forced retirement, go all in to create a killer comeback album. As they learn to trust themselves and dive back into songwriting, they entwine their lives and voices in ways they couldn’t have imagined alone.
Everyone has forgotten about soul singer Honey Conaway, except that she stabbed a producer’s eye out at a party and left drunk and stumbling like some glitzy Medea. Everyone loves Gloria Redmond: Girls grew up listening to her country-tinged, smart-alecky tunes, but she has become irrelevant past her prime.
And everyone knows Sian Star, not for her time fronting the pop band The Whirlygirls, but for driving a red Porsche into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When these three women create an award-winning comeback album together, each is challenged by the version of herself that pushed her out of the spotlight in the first place.
What readers are saying:
“A beautiful novel about three vibrant, memorable women who refuse to abandon their passion for music despite their struggles with aging, caretaking, and the frustration of thwarted dreams. Gloria, Honey, and Sian are an inspiring reminder that nothing is over until it’s over.”
Jane Delury, Author of Hedge
“Drop the needle on this power chord of a novel and feel it pull you in. A resonant story about friendship, songwriting, and serendipity, and about how all of us, even aging country stars, can reinvent ourselves.” — Elisabeth Cohen, author of The Glitch.
Meri Robie is a writer and editor living in Baltimore. Her novel Wildflowers will be published by Watertower Press in 2025. Her play, “Light Strikes a Deal” was included in the Rapid Lemon Theater’s Variations on Night festival (2025), and she earned Honorable Mention for the 2023 Page One Contest by Gutsy Great Novelist (gutsygreatnovelist.com).
She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars. You can find her volunteering as an usher for various Baltimore theater productions, driving Baltimore School for the Arts students to local art events, or scribbling away notes in the front seat of her car at stop lights.
Face zombies, uncover ancient secrets, and battle sinister forces in thrilling adventures across the galaxy!
The Amazing Adventures of Hunter Caine, Soldier of Fortune
Volumes 1-3
by JP Wilder
Genre: Supernatural Sci-Fi Action Thriller
Treasure Hunter. Soldier of Fortune. Smuggler.
The Amazing Adventures of Hunter Caine, Soldier of Fortune: Volumes 1–3 by JP Wilder is a high-octane sci-fi pulp collection following Hunter Caine—a fearless, sharp-tongued mercenary who takes on the dirtiest, deadliest jobs across the galaxy.
Whether treasure hunting, bodyguarding, or battling zombies, Hunter operates strictly freelance, answering to no one but her own code. With fast-paced action, gritty humor, and a dash of lust and laser fire, this trilogy delivers a wild ride through corporate space and beyond.
“I’m Hunter Caine. Treasure Hunter. Soldier of Fortune. Smuggler. I’m kind of a bad bitch, you might say. I do what the chicken-shit Corporation, or the Holier-than-thou Collective are afraid to do. What they don’t want to do. And I do it anywhere. When stuff gets ugly, and things need doin’, I get it done. I don’t play favorites. Strictly Freelance. But, I do it all. And more. You want something done? Something dirty? Something dangerous? Something distasteful? Call Hunter. You got the cash. I got the flash.”
What readers are saying:
“a monstrously entertaining short story that can be devoured in one sitting – which, coincidentally – is what would happen to you if you were to fall prey of one of the zombified shamblers spawned by the fiendish Dr. Z. Hot chicks; alpha males; guns and gore aplenty; unstoppable ghouls; and witty – gritty dialogue that makes you smile all the way through. What can I say, it’s rip-roaring fun! And Hunter Caine is a whole different ball game to your usual lead character; someone who doesn’t care how the job gets done as long as there’s a pay check at the end of it! If you like your action with graphic novel hotitude, then this adventure is for you.”
– Goodreads Reviewer
“Wow – I didn’t quite know what to expect and I liked this so much more than I thought I would. Never have I read zombie-sci-fi-pulp…a fun romp.” – Goodreads Reviewer
A form lurched out of the foggy darkness, a black and deformed body illuminated by Planet #17’s weird green moon behind it. It swayed first left, then right, each step little more than a mindless flailing of limbs. Its arms draped at its side, hands twitching and shaking. An eerie moan slid out of its hidden face.
It was too dark to tell what in the hell it was—other than human.
Well, maybe human. Maybe native.
Why in hell does this shit always happen to me?
I’d spent two days driving around this shit-hole planet looking for the hidden lab of some dude named Professor Zorsky (I took to calling him Doctor Z), before I found this crummy road. I’d spent the prior two days seeking information on the same, paying off the local gangsters for intel, holding up nasty informants at blade point, even fornicating with one loathsome three-armed guy, feeling the entire time like someone was stalking me.
And here I was.
Almost to the target, and this shit happens. Basic damn job, I’d thought. No fighting monsters or mercenaries or government men. No killing.
A thousand easy damn chits.
Yeah right.
Just when payday is right down the road, this freaky shit wanders out of the swamp. Figures. Just my damn luck.
I stepped from the old Willy’s hover jeep that I’d acquired (through nefarious channels, I might add) back in New Cape Town, and side-straddled away, sliding my Colt particle automatic from its holster on my hip. If whatever-the-shit it was decided to fight, I didn’t want any harm coming to the sexy blonde in the passenger seat. No way. That was prime tail.
And flush with Corporation cash.
I remember meeting her at the Palace Saloon in Perdition outside New Bisbee, on the edge of the Frontier. She had a job. Looking for help. She flashed her creds. I harrumphed and she laid out the story of her kidnapped scientist—taken by the damn Collectivists for some unseemly reason, no doubt. I don’t do politics. But I do cold cash. And I do blue eyes and a pretty smile.
Now, I’m no homecoming queen type, but I am stone-cold sexy, I don’t mind sayin’. The girls and boys get a bit of a rush from my hard body, tats, wicked grin and crazy dreads. Still, despite my hot-itude, I’m weak in the knees for the baby blues.
So, I took the job. Didn’t ask a single damn question, other than who, where, what, when. Didn’t care about the why. That was for more noble folks.
About the Author
JP Wilder, also known as JP Vile and Jim Pitrat, is a versatile author whose works span fantasy, science fiction, and pulp genres. He’s recognized for the “Hunter Caine Series,” contributions to “Realms of the Dragons II” for Wizards of the Coast, and “The Crusader” series.
His storytelling, marked by action and adventure, reflects his diverse experiences as a soldier, wrangler, and professor. Wilder’s narratives often explore chaos, with a writing style that keeps readers engaged and entertained.
When lifelong friends Olivia and Alexandra find themselves in opposing camps, the bonds of their friendship are tested like never before.
Olivia seeks solace in a socialist utopia that promises protection and belonging, but at what cost?
Meanwhile, Alexandra chases freedom. But can she survive in a community with few, if any, rules?
As their worlds collide and tensions escalate, secrets and lies threaten to destroy the foundation of their relationship.
Can they bridge the gap between them, or will their differences tear them apart forever?
In this gripping tale of loyalty, adventure, and human connection, the stakes are higher than ever. Protopia is a thought-provoking thrill ride that explores the power of friendship in a world on the brink.
If you devour the complex characters of Emily St. John Mandel or the visionary world-building of Octavia Butler, you’ll be captivated by this latest masterpiece by the author of the Amazon best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.
A Brooklyn-born, second-generation American, and the eldest of three boys, writing is his third career and the one about which he is most passionate. Following graduation from the US Naval Academy and active duty in the Navy, he embarked on a career in business.
He began writing his blog “Who Will Lead?” in 2010 attracting over 120,000 readers. It inspired him to write his first book, an Amazon five-star rated business fable titled “The Reluctant CEO.”
His fascination with artificial intelligence and its impact on society was the inspiration to write a science fiction thriller, The Awakening of Artemis. Currently, he makes his home in Fairport, NY, a village on the Erie Canal.
“I am known to some as the Grim Reaper, or the Angel of Death. Death is my preferred name. It’s stylish and modern, and it goes well with my Armani suits. I don’t have a fascination with robes, scythes, or skeletons, especially when I’m releasing souls.”
My Name Is Death
by Laura Daleo
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
My Name Is Death takes the Grim Reaper concept in a creative direction. Put aside the image of a scary, sickle-carrying, robe-clad entity. There are no shortages of Italian suits, velvet neckties, and oxford shoes in Death’s wardrobe.
Death encounters a terminally ill young lady, Annalise, during a holiday in New Orleans. As she approaches the afterlife, Death wants to ensure she makes the best of her final moments. It is not long before they become friends.
A peaceful coexistence between angels and humans is what God desires. This plan is contrary to one of God’s other sons’ belief that angels are far superior to humans.
Devastation begins, and only God knows how it will end.
“Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. I hold this statement in high regard. Why? There are two possibilities. I could be a tax accountant-borrrinng-or I could be Death. If you guessed the latter, advance to go and collect $200. My name can influence anyone in a room; some say Grim Reaper, others say Angel of Death. I like to call myself Death. It has a pleasant ring and a powerful effect on people. The way “Death” embodies the style and pizazz of my attire, which includes Armani suits, ties, and shoes, influenced my decision to select it as my name. It had never occurred to me to dress in a dark robe, to carry a scythe or an hourglass, or to assume a skeleton physique.”
I was born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. A creative writing class in junior high ignited my passion for storytelling; however, it was Anne Rice who truly inspired me. Her novel, Interview With The Vampire, has become one of the best-selling books of all time and fueled my desire to craft my own vampire legend. In 1996, I created Immortal Kiss, which patiently waited until 2014 for its publication.
At present, my published works include Immortal Kiss, Bound by Blood, The Vow, The Vampire Within, The Soul Collector, The Doll, Once We Were Witches, and My Name Is Death. My current project is an urban fantasy titled The Wolf Experiment.
Here are some fun facts about me: I love enjoying Starbucks coffee while I write. I’m also obsessed with shoes. I have two furry kids named Rose and Cooper. And, of course, I’m a huge fan of all things vampire.
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases that eluded Eliot Ness and kicking demon butt.
Times Change
Joe Mack Shadow Council Files Book 5
by Gail Z. & Larry N. Martin
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Roaring 20’s Monster Hunter
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases that eluded Eliot Ness and kicking demon butt.
Josef Magarac was a brave man, a strong man, a hard-working immigrant who only wanted a better life for his family. Then he was murdered, and an ancient Slavic god brought him back to life, gave him new abilities, and a mission to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Now he’s Joe Mack, immortal thanks to the Slavic god, and a champion against dark magic, demons, and things that go bump in the night.
Joe’s previous collection of adventures spanned the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. Now he’s in the modern era, working with new partners and adjusting to a whole new century. But old cases have resurfaced, and demons never die.
A supernatural serial killer has returned, and some of the evil Joe thought was done and dusted has returned to wreak havoc. It will take all of the supernatural abilities, wit, and will of Joe and his partners—past and present—to stop the dark forces once and for all. If they fail, it will unleash a wave of demonic vengeance, blood, and death unlike anything Cleveland has ever seen.
Times Change is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends.
When you ask a god for favors, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
From the bloody steel mill strikes of Pennsylvania rose a true man of steel, a steelworker transformed into something more by the power of the old gods. Josef Magarac was a brave man, a strong man, a hard-working immigrant who only wanted a better life for his family. Then he was murdered, and an ancient Slavic god brought him back to life, gave him new abilities, and a mission to protect those who can’t protect themselves.
Now he’s Joe Mack, and together with his allies, Secret Service agent Jack West and heiress Sarah Grace McAllen Harringworth, he handles the hard cases the regular feds won’t touch like magic-wielding mobsters, Lovecraftian monsters, and secret supernatural societies.
The Joe Mack Adventures: Volume One is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends.
This is a collection of four books in the Joe Mack Shadow Council Files by award-winning author team Gail Z. & Larry N. Martin, authors of the Spells, Salt, & Steel and the Wasteland Marshals series. The Shadow Council Case Files are historical fantasy novellas set in the world of Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter, that tell the true stories behind the tall tales surrounding some of the world’s most famous (and infamous) folk heroes.
This collection includes Cauldron, Black Sun, Chicagoland, and Spellbound.
Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria.
Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron & Blood, Storm & Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention that never ends.
Larry N. Martin is the author of the new sci-fi adventure novel Salvage Rat, and the new portal fantasy series, The Splintered Crown, A Tankards and Heroes novel. He is the co-author (with Gail Z. Martin) of the Spells, Salt, and Steel: New Templar Knights series; the Steampunk series Iron & Blood; and a collection of short stories and novellas: The Storm & Fury Adventures set in the Iron & Blood universe. He is also the co-author (with Gail) of the Wasteland Marshalsseries and the Joe Mack – Shadow Council series from Falstaff Books.
The Martins have three children, a Maltese, and a Golden Retriever.
