The Serenity Mountains Series, #9 by Cassie Colton Release Date: November 26th 2024 Genre: Holiday/Romantic Suspense/Medical Romance
The holidays are a time of reflection and redemption...
Reflecting on the year's events, Kassie Winters recognizes the blessings and hardships her friends and family have endured this past year. Through a series of losses and gains, she knows that her life is finally on the right track and heading in the right direction, especially now that the Winter's Foundation is generating recognition for its life-changing work.
But when a stranger from her past shows up without warning, everything changes, and Kassie's perfect world is upended. Now, she's forced to dig deep to find forgiveness that she's not sure she can muster. As chaos threatens Serenity, those she loves are struggling and battling illnesses. Suddenly, Kassie faces her demons while still caring for her friends and family. But when it seems the darkest before dawn, they are saved from an unexpected source. Will this Christmas miracle give Serenity the peace it's hoped for all along?
“This is Kassie. Send the ambulance to Joe and Maddie’s and alert Dr. Petty to the ER for a possible stroke.”
“What? Kassie?” Maddie exclaimed as she watched Kassie lay Joe back against the pillows on his side.
“Hang on, Joe. Everything will be fine.”
“I love you, Little Bit,” he told her, his mouth drooping.
“I love you, too. Keep fighting, Joe. Our family needs you,” she encouraged as she smiled and attempted to remain calm.
“Take care of Maddie,” Joe whispered as he gazed at her.
“Always,” Kassie assured him as her heart raced.
The team rushed in. Kassie stepped back to allow them to do their job. She reassured Maddie, “I’ll take care of him.”
They rushed him to the ambulance and sped back to the hospital.
“I’ll keep you posted. We caught it early, Maddie. It’s a good thing.” Kassie hugged her tightly before racing to her truck.
Kassie followed them as they raced him down the hall. One minute, she sat on her deck, planning Tori and Jose’s first Christmas with them as a family, and now her heart filled with dread. Joe needed to pull through. He remained her rock. After the lonely years of spending Christmas alone with Em, she longed for the day Joe and Maddie spent the holidays with her family. They hadn’t created enough memories yet. Without Joe, Christmas wouldn’t be the same on Serenity Mountain.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . CHRISTMAS ON SERENITY MOUTAIN (Serenity Mountain, #9) . . . Holiday Chaos: Can a Christmas Miracle Save Serenity Mountain?
"The holidays are a time of reflection and redemption," and this book throws Kassie Winters into the deepest emotional waters yet! This installment in the Serenity Mountain series is a thrilling blend of Holiday Romance, Medical Suspense, and intense family drama.
Kassie Winters has endured a year of losses and gains, finally feeling that her life is on the right track with the success of the Winter's Foundation. But the twist and turns of life are not over, and she certainly won't get the break she deserves!
Just as Kassie is attempting to find peace, chaos comes to Serenity Mountain. Her perfect world is utterly upended when a stranger from her past shows up without warning, forcing her to confront demons and find a forgiveness she's not sure she can muster. On top of the emotional turmoil, tragedy strikes those she loves, and Kassie finds herself rushing to the ER, reminding us of the high medical stakes this series is known for.
Kassie must dig deep to care for her struggling friends and family while battling her own inner demons. When it seems the darkest before dawn, an unexpected source provides a glimmer of hope. Will this Christmas miracle give Serenity the peace it has longed for? This is a gripping, emotional, and satisfying read that proves even the holidays can’t stop the relentless fight for happiness.
Cassie Colton is a best-selling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, military, and contemporary romance. Always an avid book reader and storyteller, she worked for one of the happiest places on earth. There, she found her love for making magic and happily ever afters.
The Serenity Mountain Series begins her author journey, detailing the lives of former military men and women who have lost their way and found peace on Serenity Mountain. Like in every story, her characters have to fight through adversity to find happiness ever after.
Like life, Cassie writes about character struggles that sometimes become dark before they see the light, but she always provides a happy ending. She believes everyone deserves to find happiness and love because it is the only thing worth fighting for.
She now lives in Virginia with her wonderful family and service dog, Leia. She enjoys gardening, flowers, cooking, and learning about beekeeping.
He wants to spread his wings...but can he trust them when he's never been allowed to fly?
Phoenix Found, an all-new M/M, shifter romance and the final book in the Brothers of Fire series from bestselling author TJ Nichols is now available!
BLURB
Perrin Shade’s family has worked for the phoenix shifters for hundreds of years. It was always assumed he would do the same. But as his thirtieth birthday approaches, the restlessness he’s kept hidden grows. He only knows Mont de Leucoy. He’s never had a chance to explore the world. But there is a reason his family sought sanctuary in the kingdom…
He is the kind of paranormal being that many would like to forget exists. The kinds that even paranormals hunted.
A ghoul.
Oliver has spent the last ten years being told that he is a danger to others. That the Coven would hunt and kill him if they found him and that his parents abandoned him. Now, he is being told that is all a lie.
He is a phoenix shifter and his brothers have been searching for him. They claim to know him, but how can they when he doesn’t know himself?
They have their history, their duties, and their expectations. He should be embracing all of this, but instead, all he wants to do is leave before the weight of the past crushes him. The only person who treats him as if he isn’t broken is the castle handyman, Perrin.
Can a man who is really a monster help the man who is convinced he is a monster learn how to live and love?
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . PHOENIX FOUND (Brothers of Fire, #5) . . . Found Family, Hidden Monsters, and an Intense M/M Battle for Self-Acceptance!
PHOENIX FOUND is a gripping and deeply emotional M/M paranormal shifter romance that serves as the perfect final book in the Brothers of Fire series. TJ Nichols masterfully explores two incredibly broken men struggling with identity and self-worth, making this an intense story of self-discovery.
On one side, we have Oliver, the missing phoenix who has finally found his brothers. For ten years, he was convinced he was a danger, hunted by the Coven, and abandoned. Now he is being told that is all a lie. Yet, with his history and expectations weighing on him, he feels like a complete stranger in his own family, wanting desperately to run before the past crushes him.
On the other is Perrin Shade, the castle handyman and the hero Oliver finds comfort with. Perrin has worked for the phoenix shifters for centuries, but as his thirtieth birthday approaches, the deep restlessness inside grows. He is a ghoul, a being many paranormals fear and hunt, and he's spent his life hiding his status. He wants to spread his wings, but can he trust the world when he's never been allowed to fly?
The core of this romance is the question: Can a man who is really a monster help the man who is convinced he is a monster learn how to live and love? Their connection is the healing force they both desperately need. This book is a beautiful, intense journey of accepting the monstrous parts of yourself and realizing you are not broken. A spectacular, emotional conclusion to the series!
“I know there’s a lot going on, but can I catch you about the repairs to the hunting lodge?” Perrin called after Malcolm after following him inside. A lot going on was a bit of an understatement.
The missing phoenix had returned to the castle. Dalmon’s engagement to Lucian had been officially announced, and Kaine now had a fated mate. The last time there’d been as much going on in the castle had been after the Queen’s death, and Everest had been a baby.
Perrin had been ten.
Old enough to understand what was going on. Old enough to be aware that while his father worked in the castle, and he’d grown up with Kaine, who was only a few years older, he wasn’t part of the family. He wasn’t a phoenix. Though there had been plenty of times that he wished he was.
Even at ten, he’d been aware it was best to keep his paranormal status hidden, even from other paranormals.
Malcolm stopped and turned. “How bad is it?”
While control of the repairs had been handed to Malcolm, all that meant was that Perrin needed Malcolm’s approval before he progressed to the next stage. They had discussed the immediate actions that needed to be taken to secure and protect the buildings, but now decisions needed to be made.
He pulled his notebook out of his pocket. “If you want to go through the details, we can, but you’re going to want to set aside a couple of hours. Or you can have a quick rundown.”
“Perrin hoped he’d opt for the quick option and approve whatever repairs Perrin suggested without too many questions, as it would make his life easier.
Malcolm didn’t groan, but his shoulders slumped as if he didn’t want to do it but thought he should. “I’ll schedule that for tomorrow. Can I message you?”
“Sure.” Because Perrin had nothing better to do than wait for Malcolm to ask questions when Perrin had already come up with the best option. “Do you want the thirty-second version?”
Malcolm nodded.
“The main house and the hunting lodge are both secure, though if another storm rolls through, I don’t like the lodge’s chances. The damage was extensive, both from the storm and the fire. The main house only needs some window repairs. The internal damage is all cosmetic.”
Malcolm frowned as though he didn’t understand why he needed to set aside a couple of hours. “So fix the main building first?”
“This is where it gets tricky. If you ignore the lodge, then it’s likely to become further damaged. I’ve had a team of guys out there relocating anything of historic significance, but we can’t get a removal truck out there because of the snow.” The snow and the storms were going to make all repairs dicey. Particularly if a storm hit while they were only halfway through a roof. It was possible for all the work to be undone. “I have a plan.” Which Malcolm would no doubt go through line by line. “And if you want the details and input, we need to sit down.”
Or you can leave me alone and tell me to get on with it.
Laughter and squealing rang on the stone walls. A dark-haired little girl wearing a burning T-shirt and track pants ran past them, holding a fireball.
Perrin glanced at Malcolm. Burning three-year-olds was not his department. Malcolm stared at the girl as if he had no idea what to do, and she glanced back, grinning.
For more information about TJ Nichols and their books, visit their website:
He’s the last person I want to rely on, but I don’t have a choice.
Winter in Kentbury, an all-new forced proximity, second chance, wintery romance from USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa is now available!
Until a year ago, I had a pretty good handle on my life.
I ran my grandmother’s flower shop, lived in the quaint apartment above it, and everything was perfectly fine.
Until business slowed, bills piled up, and I started wondering if I’d lose everything.
Now, I’m holding it all together by a thread—depending on one major wedding order that could save everything.
But, of course, a blizzard hits, and my delivery van breaks down.
And who shows up to help? Holden Miller.
My first love and the man who broke my heart.
Brooding, distant, and somehow even more infuriatingly handsome.
He’s the last person I want to rely on, but I don’t have a choice.
Now we’re stuck together, forced to confront the past I’ve been running from.
The cold might be the least of my worries.
Because the hardest thing I have to face is the one person I thought I could never love again.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . WINTER IN KENTBURY . . . WINTER IN KENTBURY is a charming, second-chance romance set in a cozy small town. Our heroine, who runs her grandmother's flower shop, is on the verge of losing everything. A major wedding order is her last hope, but when a blizzard hits and her van breaks down, who shows up to help but Holden Miller? He is her first love and the man who broke her heart—now brooding, distant, and infuriatingly handsome. Stuck together by forced proximity, they must confront the past they've been running from. Can this be the chance they have been waiting for? This is a lovely, wintery read about getting love right the second time around.
“Well, Viking?” I challenge him. “Is this your keep?”
His warm, steady gaze turns smoldering. His lips curve into a slow smile. “It is. For now.” He doesn’t take his eyes from mine.
“And what would you do if your princess tried to run?”
He doesn’t move. He just takes another sip of coffee and watches me.
The anticipation of his reaction turns me into a live wire.
“There would be consequences, of course.”
A tremor of excitement starts up behind my knees. The flesh between my legs lifts and squeezes. Without breaking eye contact, I slowly slide my coffee mug onto the counter.
Then, I take off running. I make it to the glass sliding doors and waste a few precious seconds figuring out how to get it unlocked. The glass on the doors seems extra-thick. Like maybe it’s bullet-proof.
I throw the door open and realize Darius hasn’t moved yet.
Is he going to chase me?
He’d better not ruin this for me.
“Run, princess.” His murmur is a low rumble.
I take off sprinting across the deck and down the stairs to the sand below. I run for the water, where the wet sand will be better packed and easier to run on. Once there, I run as fast as I can.
Which isn’t very fast since my only exercise is riding Starlight.
It doesn’t matter, because when I look over my shoulder, Darius is right behind me, almost like he’s holding back even after giving me a head start.
I shriek in surprise.
He lunges forward and catches me around my waist. “Bad princess,” he murmurs in my ear as he spins me around. I cling to his muscled forearms. The gorgeous, corded tree trunks. “Now, I’m going to have to punish you.”
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . ALPHA'S CLAIM . . .Savage Bear Claiming His Fated Mate from the Lion's Den! "Let me say a little Rapuzellesque." This dark and dangerous shifter romance plunges you straight into a high-stakes, forbidden obsession!
Renee Rose and Lee Savino deliver a truly intense, fated-mates PNR with ALPHA'S CLAIM. Our hero, who is not the nice bear, keeps his primal self caged—until he meets Paloma. She is his future and his fated mate, and she smells like wild orchids, driving his bear totally uncivilized and savage.
Paloma is beautiful and talented, but she's trapped in a dark situation—locked in a mansion tower by her foster father, with whispers of a virgin auction circling her. The protective instinct from the hero is absolute fire; his bear is desperate to break free and go on a rampage to save her.
The emotional conflict is intense: he knows he can save her, but fears he can never claim her. This book delivers all the dark heat and primal possession you could ask for, making it a spectacular, thrilling read about an alpha who must unleash his deepest, wildest self to fight for his fated mate!
High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G, #2 by Freya Barker Release Date: November 4th 2024 Genre: Romantic Suspense
Dog trainer and handler, Jillian Lederman, is moving with her pack to Libby, Montana, a place where she has made friends and hopes to find a fresh start. It’s time. For years, she’s just been keeping her wounds fresh by staying in Missoula—where there were regular reminders of all she’s lost—while the rest of the world has continued to move forward.
Perhaps the new house, the beautiful mountains, and a certain pair of clear, blue eyes hold the promise of new beginnings.
Since changing careers years ago, former FBI agent Lucas Wolff has found a much better work-life balance as a member of High Mountain Trackers. Still able to serve his community, he has also been carving out a comfortable existence for himself and is not looking to make any changes to it anytime soon. Not even for a particular bold and ballsy redhead he’s been trying to avoid.
That turns out to be an impossible feat when a plane crash during a blizzard sets both of them on the trail of a young girl, all alone in the mountains. But it soon becomes evident they are not the only ones looking, and staying safe means sticking close together.
“Oh, Jillian, I’d like you to meet my son, Lucas.” I meet those pretty green eyes, now sparkling with amusement. Of course a dog named Peanut would belong to this woman. She named her cadaver dog, Emo, after all. Hell, I knew she recently moved to the area—Sloane mentioned it more than once—but I wasn’t expecting to run into her at my mother’s assisted-living home. That’s a little too close for comfort. “So you do have a first name; Lucas, huh?” “You already know each other?” Mom looks back and forth between us. “We do. How are you doing, Jillian?” She adjusts the small furball she’s holding in her arms. “Good, thanks.” I turn to my mother to explain, “Jillian and I met working on a search last summer.” Despite my immediate attempt to identify our connection as a professional one only, I see Mom’s mind already at work behind the gleam in her eyes. Great.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . HIGH INTENSITY (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #2) . . . Avalanche of Emotion: A Gritty Rescue and Undeniable Attraction!
HIGH INTENSITY is an absolute powerhouse of romantic suspense that reminds you exactly why Freya Barker's High Mountain Trackers world is so addictive. This second installment of the HMT 2G series is packed with high-stakes action, deep emotional healing, and an undeniable attraction that forces two broken people to choose a future.
Dog trainer and handler Jillian Lederman moves her life—and her pack of amazing dogs—to Libby, Montana, desperate for a fresh start after years of keeping her wounds raw. She's focused on her new home and her work, trying to leave her painful past behind, but the mountains have a way of forcing people together.
That unavoidable connection comes in the form of former FBI agent Lucas "Wolff" Wolff. Wolff, now a member of the HMT team, has been doing his best to avoid the captivating "bold and ballsy redhead," but that becomes an impossible feat when a plane crash during a blizzard sends them both on the trail of a missing eleven-year-old girl.
The intensity level is through the roof as Jillian and Wolff, with the help of her specially trained dogs, track the young survivor while enemies lurk in the snow. They have a history from a previous case, but working side-by-side to save a child ignites an unstoppable chemistry. As the danger closes in and Jillian's life is put on the line, Wolff's protective instinct goes into overdrive, proving he's ready to tear down his carefully constructed walls for the woman who brings light and healing into his world.
This is a phenomenal read about found family, the fight for self-acceptance, and the powerful love that can bloom when two wounded warriors finally stop being stuck in their solitary lives. It's an intense, moving, and thrilling addition to the series!
USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories. With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
Special Forces: Operation Alpha Serenity Securities, Team Hawk, #1 by Cassie Colton Release Date: November 12th 2024 Genre: Romantic Suspense
Still buried in guilt from losing his unit, Ryder "Patch" Hawkins is ready to end it all. The last thing he wants to do is face his demons and rehash the events of that tragic day. However, he reluctantly agrees to admit himself into Winters Foundation Hospital on Serenity Mountain, a facility that specializes in veteran recovery.
Meeting Dr. Claire Meyers changes everything for the battered corpsman.
Ryder makes an astonishing breakthrough with the sassy and confident psychologist's unorthodox methods. Soon, the strong and sarcastic man begins to soften in her presence. But when a dangerous killer sets his sights on Claire, Ryder and the Serenity Securities team jump into action. Ryder refuses to lose another person he cares about. He's determined to save her before it's too late. Will Ryder finally find a "life worth living" and allow Claire to rescue him from himself?
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . RESCUING RYDER (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk, #1) . . . A Shattered Soldier, a Killer's Obsession, and a Fight for Redemption!
RESUCUING RYDER launches the Serenity Securities, Team Hawk series with a powerful emotional punch, blending military trauma with intense romantic suspense.
Our hero, Ryder, is a man consumed by the intense guilt of losing his unit of brothers in arms. He's a broken warrior, convinced he is beyond saving, but his journey toward redemption begins when the team from the Winters Foundation Hospital on Serenity Mountain intervenes.
In swoops Dr. Claire Meyers, the dedicated and compassionate therapist who is determined to heal the brokenness she sees in him. Claire's strength and light begin to chip away at Ryder's hardened shell, and they find something truly special between them—a connection that's both unexpected and necessary for their survival.
However, the path to healing is fraught with danger. A killer, fascinated with Claire, introduces a terrifying new layer of chaos to the serenity of the mountain. Ryder, a man who swore off protecting anyone else, is forced to re-engage with his instincts to save the one woman who is saving him. This book delivers high-octane action, deep emotional healing, and a consuming suspense plot, making it an absolutely unputdownable read!
Cassie Colton is a best-selling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, military, and contemporary romance. Always an avid book reader and storyteller, she worked for one of the happiest places on earth. There, she found her love for making magic and happily ever afters.
The Serenity Mountain Series begins her author journey, detailing the lives of former military men and women who have lost their way and found peace on Serenity Mountain. Like in every story, her characters have to fight through adversity to find happiness ever after.
Like life, Cassie writes about character struggles that sometimes become dark before they see the light, but she always provides a happy ending. She believes everyone deserves to find happiness and love because it is the only thing worth fighting for.
She now lives in Virginia with her wonderful family and service dog, Leia. She enjoys gardening, flowers, cooking, and learning about beekeeping.
