It’s me, Darcy Valentine. I’m still enjoying a fabulous, never-ending first date with my sexy vampire boyfriend Storm. Can you believe we’re celebrating a year together? Yep, we go together like toast and jam. He’s still helping me with the B&B I run inside the warded walls of the quirky, ancestral castle I call home with the rest of the special family my mama and I built with the motley group of weirdos who live here with us.Lordy, do I ever have a crazy tale for you this time. I’m a huge fan of not just Storm but so many other authors. Imagine my thrill when Storm gets the invite to appear at a reader con right here in Austin. You only know I have to go with him, right? It’s the perfect way to celebrate things getting back to normal, our first anniversary, and… did I mention there’d be book signings?Just one thing… Nobody told me these conventions can be deadly. Life-changing, in fact. Remember how I said I’m a huge fanboy? Y’all… I ain’t got nothin’ on the Storm Chasers. Who are they, you ask? Ha! Have a seat. This one might take a few to tell.This 24k novella is the fifth and final book in the Magical Mischief at the B&B series. This book does not contain mpreg, and if you’re looking for serious literature, this ain't it. But if you want to laugh so hard you’ll wake the neighbors, this should get you there. There might be a few tears this time, but it’s mostly full of all the fluffy, happy feels you’d expect from a Susi Hawke book. It could also be a choking hazard due to a ridiculous amount of awful jokes, so maybe don’t eat or drink while reading, okay?

    So what’s the problem, I hear you cry? Gorgeous, naked man in my bedroom? Well, there’s the not-so-small, highly significant detail that he died six years ago. Yup. You read that right. And now he’s everywhere. I can’t even brush my teeth in peace. And did I mention that he never stops talking? I’ve missed him like crazy, every day of the six years he’s been gone. And with Christmas coming, the memories are even more acute. But this is getting beyond a joke. Ignoring a naked guy is a pretty tough task, especially when I’m the only one who sees him. So when he bops a complete stranger on the head with his dick in the middle of the coffee shop, I have to laugh. Anyone would, right? Except… there’s a look on the guy’s face that tells me he felt that. But… how could he? And now he’s looking at me like he’s expecting me to explain what just happened. Either he’ll call for the guys with the straitjacket… or this will be one of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had….

    He’s been hired to save an old library from closing, but his obstacles include not only fighting for state funding, but a Selectman who wants to tear the building down in favor of a shopping center. Christopher is introduced to Miles Sakasai, a charming tattooed repairman on site to restore the historical interior of the building. Working in close proximity has both men falling hard for each other. It also provides Christopher with an opportunity to learn about Miles’s passion for baking. And as it turns out, Miles’s skills in the kitchen may end up being the key to saving the library—but only if his bread can rise to the occasion.

    Handsome, accessible, relatable. But when his not-so-vanilla personal life goes public, he high-tails it back to his home state of Michigan for the holidays—to the man (and Dom) he once loved. Blake Aldrich tried love, twice. When it didn’t work, he retreated to focus on his pottery. He finds success but he’s never forgotten what he lost. His lover. His submissive. His best friend. Now Preston is back, invoking a childhood pact and dragging a Hollywood-sized mess into Blake’s tidy life. The lure of a sub in Blake’s woodland retreat tempts him and the lacy surprises under Preston’s clothes are a present he can’t resist unwrapping. The heat between them ignites and their old feelings come rushing back, but Tinstletown is still calling Preston’s name. Blake will have to choose whether to follow the man he’s always loved, or be left out in the cold. Preston's Christmas Escape contains predicament bondage, lingerie, paparazzi, and a second chance at love. Although set in the Pendleton Bay world, it can be read as a standalone story.

    Alex did everything he wanted, and now it’s all over. Is it better to have played and lost, or never to have played at all?When a health scare forces celebrity hairdresser and enthusiastic dominant Alexander Styles into retirement in Maine - clean air, clean living, blah blah blah - he reluctantly hangs up his leathers and does what is good for him, ready to try moderation after a life of excess.But old habits die particularly hard in old dogs and when he meets Warner Smith, funny, surprisingly bratty, fit at fifty, and wholly inexperienced in the fantasies that have never made it further than the inside of his head he figures he has one more bout of domination left in him, if he is careful. After all, nobody should have questions about something this essential at their time of life.He thought it was a favour, he thought it was a good deed to even out his karma a little, he never expected the energy to be so profound, or the connection to be so immediate.Alex, for the first time in his life, finally, is falling for someone, and he didn’t see that coming in the December of his life.What Yet May Come is a low angst, friends to lovers story of kink exploration turned life changing relationship between two older men. There will be a Happy Ever After and the book is a standalone but being from Romilly King, author of the Delphic Agency Series, you can expect steam.

    Tell family I’m gay2. Make giant cake for anniversary party3. Convince Connor to be my fake boyfriend for the weekend4. Try to keep my hands off Connor5. Make sure Connor doesn’t find out I’ve been in love with him for the last three yearsConnor’s Steps for Success:1. Perfect pole routine for Chrome Stars2. Continue search for perfect music3. Survive weekend with Patrick’s family without mauling him while sharing a bed4. Prevent feelings from exploding like a glitter bomb5. Make sure Patrick doesn’t find out I’ve been in love with him foreverStrawberry Kisses is a 78,000 word standalone, contemporary MM romance featuring a sweet pastry chef, sassy pole dancer, a nosy but loving family, fabulous make-up, fluffy feels, and copious amounts of cake.

    At the biggest shopping center in Australia. On the busiest shopping day of the year. Hell no. Right?Ethan’s soft heart gets the best of him. He battles through the parking lot, and in the main shopping concourse, he’s trampled, elbowed, and bombarded with terrible holiday music. Then he enters hell itself, a specialty store aimed at women… where he meets Ty. They bond in a sea of estrogen and manic shoppers, fighting together to attain freedom, only to find they’re not quite ready go their separate ways. This novella was originally published in 2017. Some scenes have been revamped and an epilogue has been added.

    He’s had an ongoing relationship with his music collaborator for many years but never fully committed to him nor said those three all-important words. Now Gypsy’s longtime love is gone, and he’s left picking up the pieces of his life while settling his friend’s estate.Jacob McKinney owns the local cafe. He knows who Gypsy is the moment he walks into his restaurant and also knows why the famous musician is in town. They were formally introduced years ago, but he doubts Gypsy remembers him, which is just fine. Although Gypsy and Jacob live in two very different worlds, there was one person who’s tied them together.John Kirby was a talented award-winning lyricist who worked with many musicians throughout his long career. Born with a heart defect, he made the most of his time, but in the end, left behind two very different men to process their loss. Kirby’s one wish was to bring Gypsy, the only man who owned his damaged heart, and Jacob together somehow—first, as a way to help each other mourn, but then as a new opportunity at love.Can two grieving men find lasting love together and uncover the connection Kirby already knew existed between them? Dead men can’t talk, but their dreams can still come true—even from the beyond.Gypsy Heart is a stand-alone rockstar romance with a slow burn, high emotions, grief/comfort, and an HEA.

    But just five days before Christmas, his unorthodox methods catch up with him and his world comes crashing down.McBride tries to concentrate on his new day job as security for the visiting Israeli ambassador. He even starts to feel a renewed sense of self-worth when the leader of the Israeli team, the aristocratic Tobias Leitner, takes a bullet for him in the line of duty. But he can't forget the trafficking case, especially when his investigations result in the kidnapping of his own daughter! McBride has no one to turn to for help—no one, except Toby.Can these two very different men work together to bring about a holiday miracle—and heal one another's heart in the process?42,000 words

    Everything about him rubbed me the wrong way and still does. In high school, he was always trying to one-up me either in class or out on the ice. Much to his disappointment, I was always the winner.The competition between us was fierce, and even though we’d been out of school for over a decade, Chance Reed was still always trying to one-up me.Today he finally got his wish. The man I hate with a passion saved me, and now I owe him and he’ll never let me forget it.What was once hatred has turned into an attraction I’m not sure I can deny, not now that he’s got me right where he’s always wanted me.Do I give into what my body wants, or do I fight him like I’ve been doing from the moment we met?Polar Bear, Alaska’s days are short and chilly. And the nights, well, they’re long and frigid. The small, isolated town known for its yearly icy swim is overflowing with hunky, lonely men. These Mountain Men are waiting for their special soulmate to come along and heat things up. This December, take the plunge with nine of your favorite Instalove authors as we introduce you to your new Mountain Man book boyfriends. 12/1 - Loni Ree12/3 - Frankie Love12/6 - Logan Chance12/8 - Heather Dahlgren12/10 - Harlow Layne12/13 - Kelsey Cheyenne12/15 - Evie Mitchell12/17 - Sarah Curtis12/20 - KL Donn

    

    He gets the coffee and keeps the schedule, but he's just an ordinary bear shifter from Colorado who could stand to lose a few pounds. His co-workers call him "Teddy", and he's not sure he's cutthroat enough to be promoted to junior agent. When he gets coffee from a new shop one day, though, Reed meets grizzly shifter Tyler Ronson, who not only thinks Reed is adorable, he's pretty sure Reed is his mate. Even though he's only in Valleywood to open a new Rocky Mountain Java, Tyler wants to make Reed feel better, to help him feel loved and cared for. When it comes time for Tyler to leave Valleywood, he knows he has to convince Reed to come with him. Reed doesn't know if he can give up his dream of making it big, the one he's worked so long to find, but he knows Tyler is the man for him, so he has to decide: should he stay in Valleywood and keep his old hopes alive or go back to Colorado with the love of his life?

    It looks like it's going to be Valentine's Day at the earliest before they're reunited, though. Oliver's been keeping Grady busy during the holiday season, and he just might have a Christmas surprise for Grady at the Hammer's annual Charity Auction that the man will never forget.

    He's desperate but time, like his options, is running out.Rory Kincaid is scared he won't last another night sleeping rough on London's frozen, snowbound streets. With all the homeless shelters full, Rory seeks refuge in the first empty doorway he stumbles across.Finding Rory shivering in the sub-zero temperatures, Jack can no more send him away than kick a puppy out into the cold. A shower, shave and hot drink later, the grubby street kid is transformed into a beautiful young man.As the attraction between them grows, so does a plan that will get Jack out of the mess he's in and give Rory a warm, safe home for Christmas. Sweet and adorable, Rory will make a great fake boyfriend for the festive season - the problem is, neither Jack nor Rory is sure where make-believe ends and truth begins.Warning: this 37k novella contains a camp Christmas tree, a drag queen Christmas fairy called Doris, way too many jugs of eggnog, a closet posh boy, and the sweetest Kiss Before Christmas ever.

    I ran the codas on my blog and left them up there for readers to enjoy all year round.Readers requested that I collect the codas and make them available digitally and in print, and I thought that was a fun idea, which is how you come to be reading this. I decided to add another ten new codas to the collection, as well as some recipes for cocktails and dishes that are either featured in the original works or seem to add some final comment or insight into the era or the characters or their relationship.