Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Out Now! Crimson Jewel by A Gordon

 

 Book Tour

Crimson Jewel

By

A Gordon

 

About the Book:

Publication Date: June 18, 2025

Genre: Romantasy (Fantasy and Romance)

 

A Deadly Game of Dating.

Choose One.

FEE. FIE. FOE. FUM.

     

Ruby spends her days fighting to stay alive in post-apocalyptic Alaska. She doesn’t have time to believe in giants, true love, or fairy tales. That is, until she uses a strange staircase concealed in the forest to escape the latest predator trying to kill her. While hiding, she’s caught by Raiden, a giant with stormy eyes and disturbingly sexy fangs. For trespassing, he forces her up the stairs to his realm.

 

Upon arrival in the Fiefdom, she discovers that she’s the key to unlocking an ancient prophecy. Desperate for her to stay, the giants offer a deal—if she agrees to marry a First-Born son of nobility and become queen, they promise sanctuary to her family. Determined to give her loved ones a better life, Ruby signs a blood oath that gives her four weeks to choose a husband from the Fiefdom’s most eligible bachelors.

 

But some giants want her dead. To survive, she’ll need to navigate a web of lies, discern friend from foe, and thwart multiple assassination attempts, all while balancing a complicated social life. Will she make it to the altar before she loses her life—or her heart?

 

Purchase Links:


Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Books-A-Million

 

Excerpt:


Sitting down on the bed, I stared at the heels. They were the final straw of imposter syndrome. You could clean me up, dress me in fancy clothes, and decorate me in jewels, and I still wouldn’t fit in. But it was better than starvation or being eaten by a pack of wolves, so I pulled on the ridiculous shoes. Unsteady as a newborn filly, I wobbled over to the full-length mirror. I yanked on the crop top, trying to make the fabric longer.

I glanced at Sid, who was watching me intently. “No, judgment,” I chided, not used to so much exposed skin.

Together, we peered out the door, confirming the hallway was empty. With a hand pressed against the wall for balance, my stilettos and I teetered along. I was about to give up and go back to the room to find a different mode of transportation when somebody chuckled. Recognizing the deep timbre, my irritation flared and heat crawled up my cheeks.

I spun around as fast as possible without falling on my derriere. “What? You don’t have anything better to do than laugh at me? Don’t worry, I’m headed back to the room to change out of these stupid shoes.”

“No, I’m sorry. I apologize.” Raiden held up a hand. “You’re just so fierce most of the time, I didn’t think a stupid pair of shoes would be your demise.”

I had to give him an A for effort. He was trying to control his laughter.

“Everyone has their kryptonite,” I said.

His gaze slid down the length of my body. “That they do.” He sounded resigned.

I was surprised he understood the reference, but I didn’t have time to ask before my ankle buckled.

Raiden caught me under both arms, gripping almost my entire ribcage with his hands. The weight of my breasts rested on his thumbs. An uncomfortable warmth pooled in my stomach, and shivers skated over my skin. He didn’t seem to notice.

“Are you okay?” His gray eyes were level with mine. The pulse in his neck, right above the open collar of his shirt, thumped in rhythm with the rapid beat of my heart.

I took a deep breath and released it slow. “Yes. Thank you.”

He helped me stand, then let go, leaving behind tingling imprints of his hands around my chest. “Do you think if I escort you, you can walk in those things?”

“Yeah, but can’t I just go change?” I whined. I didn’t like relying on anyone. Besides, being close to him made me feel weird. The force was strong in this one. It wasn’t the same as being around Loch—he made me feel self-conscious, like a peasant around a prince.

He glanced down and checked his silver watch. “You can, but being late is heavily frowned upon around here.”

“Okay,” I said, not wanting to be rude.

He held out an elbow, and when I looped it with my own, his skin was searing hot against mine.

“Do you feel okay?” I touched his arm with my free hand.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re so hot.”

A charming but cocky smirk curled his lips. “Thank you.”

I smacked his arm lightly. “No. That’s not what I meant and you know it. It’s like you have a fever.”

“We naturally run hotter than humans.”

Funny, my temperature ran around 100 degrees, which I’d always thought odd, but my mom had assured me it was normal. She’d convinced me a lot of strange things were normal. Like taking vials of mine and Kevin’s blood to work with her. She said she did it because of her job.

“Earlier, you referred to me as a young lady, and now I’ve been demoted to human again?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that. I owe you an apology. I was mad. You interrupted my investigation and I let my irritation get the better of me.”

“Is human a derogatory term?”

“It can be. Some giants don’t like humans. Others, well . . . they like them a little too much.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Redness crept up his neck, staining his face pink. “Oh, for Fie’s sake. I’m just making this worse.”

I didn’t argue.

“I don’t dislike humans,” he clarified.

“Dude, should I get you a shovel so you can dig this hole deeper?”

He snorted, then choked out a laugh, his deep-set eyes all but disappearing behind his wide smile. “Yes, please, so I can finish burying myself.”

 

What Readers Are Saying:

OMG, YOU GUYS!! 

If you love romantasy, DON'T SLEEP ON THIS ONE! It's on KU, but with a cover like that, I had to order a paperback for my shelf. 

FEE FIE FOE FUM. Jack and the Beanstalk for grownups with a Bachelorette twist? Yeah, count me in.  

Bump it to the top of your TBR...STAT. 

Crimson Jewel was an amazing read from beginning to end! Immersive, lush world building, high stakes, and scorching spice had me turning the pages and staying up late just to see what would happen next!

Bea is a strong, savvy FMC that you instantly root for. Each decision she makes is relatable... whether for good or not so good. 

Crimson Jewel is a fresh take on romantasy. It's unique, cleverly plotted, and the writing is vivid, bringing the world to life in cinematic fashion.  I loved this book from start to finish and very, very highly recommend it!

 Alex Gordon you knocked it out of the park! – A.A. DaSilva (Award Winning Author of Periphery)

 


Like any good millennial, romantasy books are my secret guilty pleasure. I'll be the first to admit I thought the ACOTAR series was top tier in this category- until I read this book. Forget fairy bat boys, this book unlocked a fantasy I didn't even know I had- getting smashed by giants.

Action, romance, sass, adventure, this book has it all. The characters are raw and real and this is a brilliant take on an old nursery rhyme. I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down and I'm definitely adding A Gordon to my list of favorite authors so I don't miss any of her next works. (PLEASE tell me there will be a next work!)

Seriously run, don't walk, to buy this book. 10/10 recommend. 

If you put together Jack and the Beanstalk with a genderbent The Bachelor you get this refreshing and spicy fantasy romance with GIANTS, prophecies, magical kingdoms and HOT bachelors that will keep you turning pages – Anonymous

 

About the Author:

A. Gordon/Alex Gordon writes Fantasy Romance and YA/NA Paranormal Romance. She’s a bit of a wanderer, having lived in Washington, Montana, Germany, Alaska, and Tennessee where she currently resides with her husband and two rescued German shepherds. When not writing, you can probably find her hiking, or if she’s lucky—fishing, though she’s not opposed to camping on the couch with dessert and bingeing murder mysteries.

 





Contact Links:

Website: https://www.alexgordonauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexgordonauthor/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexgordonauthor

 

Giveaway:


Crimson Jewel eBook Giveaway

 

Hosted By:


 

 

 

Monday, September 22, 2025

Out Now! Campus of Shadows - A Psychic Battle for the Soul by Jo Loveday

 


 Release Blitz

Campus of Shadows

A Psychic Battle for the Soul in a Supernatural Thriller

By

Jo Loveday

 

About the Book:

Publication Date: September 23, 2025

Genre: New Adult College Dark Academia Supernatural Thriller - Psychological Horror.

 

Something dark has followed Dave Everest to college—something hungry.

A neurodivergent freshman desperate for independence, Dave arrives at the University of Mann with high hopes and a shaky sense of self. But his new freedom quickly spirals into chaos when he's drawn into the orbit of his dangerously magnetic, party-obsessed roommate, Zane Maddox.

While Dave chases acceptance in all the wrong places, his childhood friend Maria Vasquez warns of forces far beyond hangovers and heartbreak. Gifted with psychic insight—and carrying a heavy burden of guilt—Maria senses something ancient and malevolent stalking him, like a vulture waiting for its moment.

Zane mocks Maria as a "crazy religious freak," but his grudge is personal, not spiritual. And as Dave's loneliness deepens, he reaches into the void—and something answers. A whispering voice named Ivan slides into his consciousness, awakening memories soaked in addiction, violence, and rage.

As family tensions boil over during Thanksgiving break and reality begins to fracture, the line between madness and possession blurs. Ivan's grip tightens. And the vulture circles closer.
Maria may be Dave's last chance at salvation. But will she reach him before the darkness does?

A dark academia pyschological horror pulsing with paranormal suspense and coming-of-age dread. Perfect for fans of Donna Tartt and Shirley Jackson.

It's The Shining meets The Exorcist.

 


Purchase Links:

Amazon Kindle

Goodreads

BookBub

Indigo

Books2Read

BookFunnel

  

Excerpt:


“You’re not getting this car out anytime soon. Come on. I’m ready to spark one.” Zane starts walking.

“Here?”

“Not right here in plain view. I have a nicely landscaped courtyard over there.” He does a sweeping motion to the right, then walks away with Ian in tow.

Thirty feet from the car, Zane and Ian duck behind a tall hedge planted to hide a row of air conditioners.

I stop. “This is sketchy, dude. Campus PD will smell that shit a mile away.”

Zane steps back in view, hands on his hips. “I’ll stand out here and watch while you and Ian take a rip, then you be lookout.”

“I plan to chill right here by my car.” 

“Whatever. Just whistle if you see someone coming.” He disappears behind the bushes.

I head back to my car and run my fingers over the huge gash in the paint, thinking about how Dad is going to kill me. 

A minute later, they are both looking at the gouge close up.

“It’ll cost at least four hundred dollars to fix it,” concludes Zane.

“I hope not.”

“At least your car doesn’t look like that.” Ian points to a dusty beater with missing hubcaps.

“That guy would not have the same problem.” I huff. “There is no paint left.”

“I can see you driving that tank, Ian.” Zane laughs.

Ian squats like he is behind a steering wheel. They both crack up.

“It’d be going chug, chug.” He lurches forward and back. The two of them find this hilarious.

“You can always sell your sperm, Dave.” Zane laughs. “Lucy seems to find it valuable.”

There’s mad belly laughter.

“Very funny.” I scan the road in hopes of finding someone walking this way, perhaps the owner of the car blocking mine. My fingers go back to the scratch, feel its depth. Another scar I have endured since I got here. A long sigh seeps out. Go ahead, you will feel better echoes through my mind. “Where is that pipe?”

“There’s my man.” Zane thumps me on the back and looks over his shoulder. “Nobody’s coming. We can all go.”

We cram ourselves into the small hidden space, and I breathe out the last molecule of oxygen before inhaling. I pray it fills every tiny air sac I have.

A sick headrush hits me, followed by odd, rolling laughter.

I peek through the bushes but see nothing.

Footsteps on the road catch my attention while we emerge from the bushes. My heart rockets when the profile appears.

“Hello, Professor.”

 

Audio Excerpt:

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5grlkl2eyq


What Readers Are Saying:

"Jo Loveday blends personal and actual demons, capturing the intense pressures young people face from family, peers, and the shadows within."   - Angela Douglas, Author of Every Fall  

Campus Shadows is a dark academia, psychological suspense story that keeps you alert.  [ ]  I enjoyed how raw and honest the plot is, and the campus setting drew me in.” - Leanne Reads and Reviews

"From the first haunting sentence, Campus of Shadows grips you with the quiet unraveling of a college freshman’s mind and it doesn’t let go until the last unforgettable line. I loved this book. It belongs on everyone’s bookshelf.” — Jeffrey Phillips, author of The Past That Kills and the Jesse Stoker Mystery Series.

“After a football injury derails his plans, freshman Dave Everest transfers at the last minute to his father’s old alma mater. But strange things start happening from the moment he arrives—a priest recoils at his touch, a vulture appears to stalk him, and his new roommate Zane immediately leads him into trouble. Campus Shadows is a chilling paranormal tale that explores the grip of dark possession, perfect for readers who enjoy eerie twists and sleepless nights.” -        Deborah Shlian, MD, MBA, award-winning author of Silent Survivor and the Sammy Greene Thriller Series

 

About the Author:

Jo Loveday is the award-winning author of the thriller, Terminal Lucidity, and soon to be released, Campus of Shadows. With years of experience as a registered nurse, she brings uncanny insight into the human condition—both its fragility and its resilience. A dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., Jo splits her time between Florida, Georgia, and frequent pilgrimages to Winnipeg.

 

 





Contact Links:

Website: https://www.joloveday.com

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D9ZY19XZ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51022629.Jo_Loveday?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558518271734

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolovedayb

X: https://x.com/JoLoveday

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jolovedayb

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JoLovedayBooks/books-and-such/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jolovedayb

 

Hosted By:

Quill and Ink Book Tours

https://quillandinkbooktours.com/

 


Out Now! Date Night with Death by Avery Arujo

 




Welcome to Moonridge, Book 2


Paranormal Mystery/Romance

Date Published: September 23, 2025



Welcome to Moonridge, where the ghosts have come out to play and Death just checked into the local B&B.

Running a B&B in a town cursed by magical drama wasn’t Mina Cartwright’s dream job, but it’s home. After all of the werewolf debacle over the summer, business has flatlined, and she’s barely holding on financially. Her last hope? A surprise booking from the cast of The Real Vampire Wives of Obsidian Hills, who are bringing their reality-show chaos (and impeccable fashion) to Moonridge just in time for the Halloween festival.

But the real trouble begins when Dex Grimm, a mysterious, breathtakingly aloof man with a cane and a suspiciously deathly aura, checks into Room Ten. He says he’s a writer. Mina suspects he’s hiding something … like the fact that he might actually be the Grim Reaper.

As ghostly activity spikes, magical boundaries fray, and her guests (living and otherwise) cause mounting mayhem, Mina finds herself caught between a brewing supernatural crisis and a man known primarily as Death who somehow makes her feel more alive than she has in years.

Add in a reality TV crew, rampaging ghosts, and the underlying danger of an ancient evil reawakening in Moonridge, and Mina’s fall season is about to be to die for.

 

About the Author


Avery Arujo is the pen name of a socially anxious, awkward, and proudly introverted author of the paranormal mystery/romance series Welcome to Moonridge. Avery lives in the northern U.S., where the scenery is beautiful, the weather perfect, and the food divine. When not writing, you’ll find Avery watching a horror movie or trashy reality TV or reading under a blanket with a cup of coffee, and the world’s sweetest dog trying to prove that they are more interesting than any old book.

For more information about the Welcome to Moonridge series, or to sign up for the newsletter, visit welcometomoonridge.com.


Contact Links

Website

Instagram

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Author Site


RABT Book Tours & PR

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Out Now! - Sweet Nightmares - Wicked Mirrors by Hazel St. Lewis

 

 

Sweet Nightmares
Hazel St. Lewis
(Wicked Mirrors)
Publication date: September 17th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

She was prophesied to destroy an evil god, but she becomes his minion instead.

Jane Whitfield rose from nothing to become the youngest Prima Ballerina in the history of the Royalle Ballet—despite having a violent husband three decades her senior. But her carefully choreographed world shatters when her husband’s enemies come to collect his debts. Jane is tortured into making an impossible die, or strike a bargain with an evil god trapped inside a mirror.

Nightmare is ancient, cruel, and feared for a reason. He trades magic, wealth, and knowledge for soul-crushing costs—and he believes Jane is the witch destined to destroy him. But instead of killing her, he toys with her, offering a twisted sell her soul, serve him, and receive an endless supply of riches—enough to satisfy her wretched husband and his debtors.

Now bound to a god who revels in ruin, Jane becomes more than just his minion—she’s his growing obsession. But obsession doesn’t spare her from his darkness. He’s evil. She’s supposed to hate him, but the more time she spends in his realm, the harder it is to tell if he’s her monster… or her salvation.

She was destined to destroy him, but love might destroy her first.

Sweet Nightmares is an adult romantic fantasy Prequel/Sequel novel to Gilded Wicked Mirrors. It can be read first, or after GWMs. It is a touch-her-and-die, villain romance perfect for lovers of the Hades and Megara dynamic or fans of Kingdom of the Wicked. It is not a standalone.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Jane stood up and put her body between them just in time to be slammed between the Vampire Prince and the ancient god. At the impact, Nightmare’s hands wrapped around her waist, steadying her.

Nightmare let out a low, wicked growl. The whites of his eyes bleeding red, fury painted on every curve of his body, his fangs and metal nails bared. Ready to kill every mortal in the room if Jane didn’t do something quickly.

“Everyone get out now,” Jane said, her hand on Nightmare’s chest and her voice wavering. Her eyes never left Nightmare. “Thorne, my monster. Keep your eyes on me.” She dug her hand into his shirt while he tightened his hold around her waist. At the same time, she heard movement from all around them. Everyone else, leaving them alone in the room.

When he still hadn’t calmed down, and his eyes hadn’t lost any of the red, Jane asked, “How can I help you settle down?” Jane flattened her palm once more over where his heart should beat—but it never did. “What do you need?”

“I need to feed.” Nightmare’s eyes flashed, and he darted around, presumably searching for an unsuspecting human he could eat.

“Are you going to kill your food?” she breathed.

“Yes.”

“Do you have to?”

Nightmare blinked, his black, well-manicured eyebrows creasing together.

“Are you able to control yourself?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said slowly, cocking his head, his eyes fixating on her neck.

“Then feed on me.” She cocked her head to the side, giving him permission to take her blood.

“You may hate it.”

“It’s fine. I am not afraid of you.”

An unreadable sound vibrated in his chest, and then, without warning, he pushed her fiercely up against the wall, pinning her in and biting down on her neck.

At first, it hurt, his fangs piercing her skin and claiming her. It was a sharp pain, but then the wound began to tingle and turn… the feeling becoming something hot and pleasurable.

Every nerve ending in her body lit up with an intense feeling that she’d never felt before. A moan escaped her lips, and she suddenly needed to be closer to him, to be touching him, one with him.

Author Bio:

Hazel St. Lewis is a Northern California-based Romantasy author. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she struggled to read and write, but fantasy stories inspired her to start storytelling. Unfortunately, now, she is a little too obsessed with morally gray characters. When she isn’t writing, she can be found playing with her hoard of cats (too many to count…it’s a problem), singing songs to said cats, or painting.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter


GIVEAWAY!

Sweet Nightmares Blitz


Book Blitz - Soulmates and Slapshots - Love in Maple Falls by Melissa Baldwin

 

 

Soulmates and Slapshots
Melissa Baldwin
(Love in Maple Falls)
Published by: September 17th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

I’m escaping the city. He’s chasing a fresh start. In a town full of surprises, love might be the biggest one.

Fiona
I’m a city girl turned temporary small-town resident—yes, I know, cliché. But after my life in Manhattan unraveled, I needed a reset. So when my aunt invited me to Maple Falls, I didn’t hesitate.
The slower pace is exactly what my burned-out brain needs. I’ve even made a few friends—including Weston Smith, a new player for the Ice Breakers hockey team who shows up when I need him most.

A local crisis draws me in, and suddenly I’m more involved than I ever planned. Maybe it’s the fresh air, or maybe it’s Weston. I came here planning to leave… but now, I’m not so sure.

Weston
Maple Falls is my fresh start—new team, new town, and a chance to prove myself. I didn’t expect to get wrapped up in this community so fast—or to fall for a certain city girl.
Fiona is bold and energetic, and I’m drawn to her more every day. When she’s pulled into a town-wide crisis, I don’t hesitate to help.

Maple Falls isn’t just where I play hockey—it’s starting to feel like the place where my future truly begins.

***

Soulmates and Slapshots is part of the Love in Maple Falls sweet hockey romcom multi-author series. In this slow burn, soulmate romance, a charming city girl meets a nice guy who falls first. Set in a small town with all the chemistry, but none of the spice.

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you’ll enjoy them best in order.

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“Hi. Are you lost?” I ask.

Wow. That sounded like the worst pickup line ever, and I immediately regret saying it.

Before I can excuse myself, she turns around and gives me a curious look.

“No. At least I don’t think so,” she says. “Is Maple Falls even big enough to get lost in?”

I laugh. “That’s a good question.”

Why did I even say that? I’ve only been in town a short time, so I wouldn’t be able to help if she needed it.

“Honestly, I’m trying to decide what to do next,” she says. “I’m not used to having so much free time on my hands.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I admit. “What’s free time?”

She gives me a casual smile. “So what recommendations can you give a Maple Falls visitor?”

I knew it. She didn’t seem like a local.

I raise my eyebrows. “Well, I probably won’t be much help since I just arrived in town myself.”

She smiles. “Ah, another new person. That’s a relief because I’m assuming everyone else in this town already knows each other.”

“Most likely,” I agree. “But you’re not the only newbie, so don’t worry.”

“What brought you to Maple Falls, Washington?” she asks.

“Work,” I reply. This is the truth. I just leave out the hockey part, and I’m not sure why.

She flashes a slight smile. “That’s a good reason.”

I’m trying not to stare, but this woman is stunning. So flawless it can’t be ignored. And it’s obvious she has a confidence and openness that instantly draws people in.

“And while we’re on the subject, what made you come to this booming metropolis?” I ask, before she catches me staring.

A flash of amusement spreads across her face. “I’m visiting my aunt, and I actually left a booming metropolis to come here.”

“Really? Where?”

“New York.”

Now it all makes sense—she has a city girl vibe. She’s confident, polished, and a little bit mysterious.

“Ah, the city that never sleeps. It’s a great place,” I say. “One of my favorites for sure.”

She nods slowly. “It is. But there’s something special about this little town too.”

“I agree,” I say. “I moved here from Tennessee. Not quite as fast-paced as New York, but more thrilling than Maple Falls.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “I don’t know…I’ve heard Maple Falls isn’t as sleepy as people think.”

“Really?” I ask, leaning in a little.

She lowers her voice dramatically, even though the only other people nearby are across the street. “I heard there might be a town scandal happening right now.”

“Ooh, now that’s interesting.”

“Yes, it is,” she says with a playful smirk. “And they even have their own professional hockey team.”

I laugh. “Yes, I’m familiar with the Ice Breakers.”

She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes at me with curiosity. “Hockey fan?”

I shrug, unable to hide the grin pulling at my lips. “More than a fan. I play on the team.”

Her eyes widen. “Wait—seriously?”

“Weston Smith, defense,” I say, offering my hand. I’m not sure why I added my player position, but it doesn’t matter now. Maybe she likes hockey?

She takes my hand and grins. “Fiona Hale. And wait until I tell my aunt. She’s going to lose her mind when she hears this—she’s a die-hard fangirl of your team.”

I chuckle. “We love our fans. I’m sure I’ll meet her sooner or later.”

She studies me for a moment, clearly still processing. “So, you’re a hockey player.”


Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Melissa Baldwin always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. She brought this vision to life, becoming an award-winning, bestselling author of over thirty romantic comedies and cozy mysteries. Melissa is also a wife, mother, new empty-nester, and travel advisor.

Her books feature charming, ambitious, and real women, whom she considers part of her tribe. Although she rarely takes a day off, when she's not writing, she enjoys quality time with her family, traveling, attempting yoga poses, and booking Disney vacations. Melissa still uses a paper planner, and her guilty pleasures include Beverly Hills 90210 reruns and General Hospital.

Visit authormelissabaldwin .com to sign up for her newsletter.

Fans of Melissa's books, join her Reader Tribe on Facebook

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok / Reader Tribe


GIVEAWAY!

Soulmates and Slapshots Blitz


Monday, July 28, 2025

Book Tour - Futility of Defense - Book 2 of A Paladin's Journey by Bryan Cole

 

 Futility of Defense

Book 2 of A Paladin’s Journey

By

Bryan Cole

 

About the Book:

Genres: Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Hero’s Journey

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Publication Date: June 30, 2023

 

Paladins are nothing but trouble. When Krell, an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea, hears the call from ReckNor, the capricious god of the seas and skies, the attention of the rich and powerful turn their gaze toward him. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.

When Krell stands against the might of the sea devils and emerges victorious, concern and interest turn to fear—fear of their secrets and plans being revealed and exposed, of the ruin that often follows in a paladin's wake. Now he stands in defense of a pitiful town at the edge of nowhere, even as the sea devil menace grows more dire for each day that passes.

For as deadly as the sea devils are to Krell, his past choices and the consequences of his actions may be deadlier still . . .

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Smashwords

Goodreads


Excerpt:

The commander’s face relaxed into an expression of superiority. He looked down his nose at Krell. “I have little reason to worry, Krell. My men are expertly trained soldiers of His Grace Mavram Hudderly, long may he reign, and servants of His Majesty King Fideon the Second, long may he reign. Whatever peril you have faced is now over.”

“I see,” said Krell.

“Me too,” said Dorn. He turned to Krell, pointing at the commander. “He’s an idiot.”

Krell nodded in agreement, while the commander’s face flushed in anger.

“Commander, the sea devils are predators, swift and violent. Their claws and teeth are like daggers, and they use them freely. When they smell blood, they fly into a berserk frenzy. If you run, you die as they catch you from behind. Your horses are of little use against them, since they would simply cut them down. Then eat them.” Krell shook his head. “Have you or your men ever faced sea devils before?”   

 

What Readers Are Saying:

A fantasy saga filled with interesting, complex characters, and dynamic relationships alongside captivating battles and systems of magic, Bryan Cole's FUTILITY OF DEFENSE is a worthy and ambitious sequel that takes Krell's story in an intriguing direction. ~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader

"Packed with engaging action and a fellowship of entertaining characters, this is a classic yet original hero's journey laced with fresh magical rules and immersive storytelling, which is ideal for long-time fans of high fantasy, offering a familiar fantasy landscape while carving its own path due to Cole's detailed attention to character-building." Self-Publishing Review,


About the Author:

Bryan Cole is the author of the Paladin’s Journey series. New to the writing world, he spent years working in the enterprise software space, focused on quality assurance and delivery of software applications. Which is weird, because that has nothing to do with writing fiction.

For that, we need to go back – way back – to his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons. His friend Chris brought over the box set for Myth Drannor, eager to play. Together, they realized they had no idea what they were doing, because neither of them owned a copy of the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or the Monster Manual.

From those incredibly awkward beginnings, a lifelong passion for epic science fiction and high fantasy adventure was born. Everything from his grade 4 teacher letting him stay after school to play a video game where you were the wizard on a quest, defeating monsters by answering math problems, to some truly memorable movies like Willow that showed him a world bigger and more exciting than the real one.

Of course, Star Wars and Star Trek have had a major influence on him. Want to get in good with Bryan? Lead with a Star Wars meme.

From one of the good movies. Otherwise your plan will backfire.

Bryan is also an avid gamer, and enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.

These days, he lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter, and his adorable cat.

 

Contact Links:

Email - fat.paladin.contact@gmail.com

Website - https://www.fatpaladin.ca/

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BFV7T7PR

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FatPaladin

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fatpaladinbooks/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22517522

 

Giveaway:



 

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