Friday, July 3, 2026

The Night Crew III: Hunting Ground (The Night Crew Series Book 3) by Brad Ricks

Maarten van Vuuren (Illustrator)
Crystal Lake Publishing
Book 3 of 3: The Night Crew Series 
Something is slaughtering people in the Arkansas wilderness—and even the Night Crew may not survive what they're about to find.

When mutilated bodies begin appearing in the Ouachita National Forest, Chief of Police Roy Henderson knows local law enforcement is out of options. His only hope is to call in the Night Crew—a covert team of supernatural operatives led by Michael, a vampire still learning what it means to live with the monster inside him.

What begins as a hunt for a rogue werewolf quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.

As attacks escalate around the town of Mena, Arkansas, Michael finds himself battling on two fronts. In the real world, a growing supernatural threat is pushing the town toward panic. In his mind, mysterious visions connected through blood are pulling him into a terrifying mystery he cannot explain.

Meanwhile, a grieving father forms a vigilante militia, a local police officer struggles to keep supernatural secrets buried, and a park ranger may hold the key to stopping a massacre before it begins.

To survive, Michael must hold his team together, uncover the truth behind the killings, and confront forces more dangerous than anything lurking in the forest.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced supernatural thrillers, vampire fiction, werewolf horror, occult mysteries, and action-packed monster hunting adventures, Night Crew III delivers relentless suspense, unforgettable characters, and terrifying creatures lurking just beyond the tree line.


About the Author: 

website
Brad Ricks is an author of supernatural horror and thrillers, blending dark settings, paranormal terror, and psychological suspense.

His novels blur the line between psychological horror and terrifying thrillers. His NIGHT CREW SERIES delves deep into the shadows of the supernatural.

Inspired by masters like Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, Brad crafts stories that haunt readers long after the final page.
 
He lives in Central Texas with his wife and children, balancing his day job with late-night horror storytelling.

New Release: The Rite of Redemption (The Rite of Fates Book 3) by Atlas Avery

The Rite of Redemption (The Rite of Fates Book 3)
by Atlas Avery
July 3, 2026
Betrayal is inevitable where power lies. The difference between retribution and redemption lies in the choice of who we wish to be.

 

About the author
website
Atlas Avery is a new voice in the literary world, conjuring magical realms focused on devotion and ruin. When she's not wrangling toddlers or navigating an ocean of chair teas, she's weaving her next enthralling tale, all while attempting to persuade her kids that "quiet time" is a real thing. 


Thursday, July 2, 2026

First Look: Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 (of 4)

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 (of 4) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, July 22, 2026

The must-read horror series of the summer continues! As the cops close in, Adam must convince his father that monsters do exist...before the full moon rises again.

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man is the seventh Universal Monsters series launch, following James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Dracula (which netted Simmonds a BEST PAINTER/MULTIMEDIA ARTIST (INTERIOR ART) Eisner Award nomination), Ram V, Dan Watters, and Matthew Roberts’ Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!, Michael Walsh’s Frankenstein, Faith Erin Hick’s The Mummy, James Tynion IV and DANI’s The Invisible Man, and Tyler Boss and Martin Simmonds’ Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera.

Blood of the Wolf Man will be followed by additional new Universal Monsters limited series pairing the biggest names in comics with pop culture’s most iconic monsters in the bestselling modern line of horror comics.

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 features a main cover by Leomacs & Pip Martin (Rogues), an open to order B cover by Jacob Phillips (That Texas Blood), incentive variants including the continuation of the connecting 1:10 incentive cover series by Maria Wolf (Phoenix) & Mike Spicer (TRANSFORMERS), a 1:25 incentive variant of Phillips’ B cover in black & white, a 1:50 incentive variant by Luana Vecchio (Lovesick), and a 1:75 incentive variant by Anwita Citriya (Creepshow).

The full list of covers is below:

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover A by Leomacs & Pip Martin (Lunar Code: 0526IM0451) 


Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover B by Jacob Phillips (Lunar Code: 0526IM0452) 

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover C (1:10 Incentive) (Connecting) by Maria Wolf & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0526IM0453)


Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover D (1:25 “Classic Horror” B&W) by Jacob Phillips (Lunar Code: 0526IM0454)


Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Luana Vecchio (Lunar Code: 0526IM0455) 

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #2 Cover F (1:75 Incentive) by Anwita Citriya (Lunar Code: 0526IM0456)




Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Excerpt: The Cassie Black Trilogy by Tammie Painter + giveaway

Work at a funeral home can be mundane.
Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

The Undead Mr. Tenpenny (The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 1)

by Tammie Painter

Genre: Humorous Dark Fantasy Mystery
Work at a funeral home can be mundane. Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

"...a clever, hilarious romp through a new magical universe" --Sarah Angleton, author of Gentleman of Misfortune

Cassie Black works at a funeral home. She's used to all manner of dead bodies. What she's not used to is them waking up. Which they seem to be doing on a disturbingly regular basis lately.

Just when Cassie thinks she has the problem under control, the recently deceased Busby Tenpenny insists he's been murdered and claims Cassie might be responsible thanks to a wicked brand of magic she's been exposed to. The only way for Cassie to get her life back to normal is to tame her magic and uncover Mr. Tenpenny's true killer.

Simple right?

Of course not. Because while Cassie works on getting her newly acquired magic sorted, she's blowing up kitchens, angering an entire magical community, and discovering her past is more closely tied to Busby Tenpenny than she could have ever imagined.

If you like comic fantasy whodunits with plenty of wry humor, a cast of unforgettable characters, a touch of paranormal mystery, and piles of pastries, you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from this first book of the Cassie Black Trilogy.

Note: While this book delivers a contemporary fantasy tale with snarky giggles and a few hexes, it's fairly clean with only an itty-bitty bit of light cursing, one fight scene, and no hanky panky or sexual situations.

The Cassie Black “Trilogy” has now grown to a very un-trilogy-like six books that include…
  • The Undead Mr. Tenpenny (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
  • The Uncanny Raven Winston (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
  • The Untangled Cassie Black (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
  • The Unusual Mayor Marheart (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
  • The Unbearable Inspector Oberlin (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
  • The Unexpected Mr Hopkins (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
What readers have to say about the series so far...
"Wow and wow again! I absolutely loved this book! You get such a feel for the characters and the story is so fast paced you don't want to put it down."
"More, please!"
"I was unable to put this down when I started reading it. The author combines humour with a fast paced murder mystery all packed into a funeral home."
"…suffused with dark humor and witty dialogue..."
"Cassie Black, won me over in the first book of this series, and she doesn’t disappoint in this one!!!"




READ A SAMPLE OF THE UNDEAD MR TENPENNY HERE:
https://read.bookfunnel.com/read/t2q4kh1ayg




The Uncanny Raven Winston (The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 2)
There's nothing like an evil wizard to ruin a perfectly good trip to London.

Ever have one of those weeks? You've taken an overdose of magic, you've melted a twelve-year old girl, and Magic HQ has sent a letter "requesting" you come by to discuss your magic control issues.

No? Just me, then?

I don't want to go. I've got a boss in a wheelchair (my fault), a zombie cat who demands his treats on schedule, and no interest in sorting out the quirks of another magical community.

But when someone slips me information tying my parents' disappearance to HQ, I can't pack my bags quickly enough.

I'm soon destroying historical displays, befriending befuddled ghosts, and focusing more on uncovering the truth about my past than on learning how to rein in my magic. Which, considering what might happen if I fail the test HQ has for me… Well, best not to think about that.

This second book of the Cassie Black Trilogy squeezes you through a magic portal, lodges you in a hidden corner of the Tower of London, and plunges you into a tale of mysterious mishaps, peculiar ravens, and TV-binging trolls.

If you like contemporary fantasy with unforgettable characters, snarky humor, and a touch of paranormal mystery -- or if you've ever wondered what those garden gnomes are really up to -- you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from The Uncanny Raven Winston.

The Cassie Black Trilogy is a fish-out-of-water tale that takes you from the streets of Portland to the Tower of London. It's got magic and mystery, pastries and zombies, sentient gnomes and an evil wizard...because there's always an evil wizard, isn't there?


**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**
Amazon-Author’s Site-Kobo-Smashwords-Books2Read-Bookbub-Goodreads



The Untangled Cassie Black(The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 3)
Sometimes taking an overdose of magic is the least of your problems.

Not only has Cassie Black just lost two people through a magic portal, but her archenemy, the Mauvais, is threatening to destroy city after city if Magic HeadQuarters doesn't hand her over to him.... a proposal HQ isn't exactly saying no to.

As the Magic higher ups debate her fate, Cassie refuses to sit by and watch the grass grow between the toes of the surveillance gnomes. Biting back her life rule to never get involved, she knows the only way to stop the Mauvais is to go after him herself.

Which is exactly what he wants. Because the instant Cassie falls into his hands, the Mauvais will gain the unlimited power he’s always craved.

So don't get captured, right? Easy for you to say.

Trouble is, there's a traitor within HQ who's proving to be more devious, more powerful, and with more tricks up the sleeve than anyone could have ever guessed.

In this page-turning conclusion of the Cassie Black Trilogy, the curses are flying, the pastries are plentiful, the bookworms are slithering, and the magical batteries are charged to capacity.

If you like contemporary fantasy filled with dark humor, paranormal mystery, and a cast of unforgettably quirky characters, you’ll love the twists and turns of this conclusion to the first Cassie Black Trilogy.


**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**
Amazon-Author’s Site-Kobo-Smashwords-Books2Read-Bookbub-Goodreads




About the Author:
Website-Bluesky-Bookbub
Amazon-Goodreads

Author of humorous fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps

Many moons ago I was a scientist in a neuroscience lab where I got to play with brains and illegal drugs. Now, I take wickedly strong tea and turn it into comic fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps that I hope give you a giggle.
My tales run the gamut from the ever-expanding Cassie Black Trilogy with its wryly humorous paranormal mysteries to the comical fantasy whodunits in The Circus of Unusual Creatures, and from light-hearted novellas celebrating my love of books to short fiction in which I really flex my myth-loving and humor-craving muscles!

When I’m not creating worlds or killing off characters, I can be found gardening, planning my next travel adventure, concocting some sort of mess in the kitchen, or working as an unpaid servant to one very spoiled cat and some very demanding squirrels.


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!


Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Into The Darkness (Her Villain Era Book 1) by Brenna Bustamante

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
  •     Dark fantasy grounded in morally complex characters
  •     Assassin-driven narratives with layered character dynamics
  •     Enemies-to-lovers arcs built on tension and restraint
  •     Unrest, faction conflict, and urban fantasy settings
  •     High-stakes survival stories with emotional depth
  •     Slow-burn attraction shaped by danger and proximity
In a city unraveling under violence and ideology, survival is no longer about completing the mission. It is about deciding who and what is worth saving.
This book is meant for 18+. Please check the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book.



Into The Darkness (Her Villain Era Book 1)
by Brenna Bustamante
June 30, 2026 
Genre: Very Dark Romantasy
Enemies-to-lovers
Morally gray assassins
Forced alliances
Dangerous attractions
Good vs evil
Antagonist turned ally
All hope lost
The antihero
Evil overlord 
Point of no return
The price to pay
Feminine rage
Forbidden magic
Found family

She was trained to end lives without hesitation.
He learned to survive by becoming something lethal.

Neither of them expected to hesitate when it mattered most.

Aza has built her life on precision, discipline, and distance. As a shadow-wielder and trained assassin, she survives by following orders and never questioning the outcome.

Her latest assignment should have been routine: eliminate a rival operative and disappear without a trace.

Instead, it becomes the moment everything fractures.

Before Aza can complete the kill, the Stars descend on the district, an extremist faction intent on eradicating every shadow-wielder they can find. What was meant to be a controlled execution spirals into chaos, forcing enemies into proximity and turning the city into a battlefield.

For the first time, Aza is not in control.

Cut off from certainty and hunted alongside the very man she was meant to eliminate, she is pushed into an uneasy alliance shaped by necessity rather than trust. Survival demands cooperation. Survival demands compromise.

But neither comes easily.

As violence spreads and the Stars tighten their grip, Aza’s priorities begin to shift. Protecting her sister and closest ally becomes inseparable from the fragile partnership she never intended to form. The lines between enemy and ally blur, and with them, the clarity she has always relied on.

What emerges in its place is something far more dangerous than hesitation.

Because proximity breeds understanding.
And understanding has consequences.

In a world where loyalty is fleeting and power is contested in blood, Aza is forced to confront the cost of everything she believes in: revenge, survival, and the identity she has carefully constructed.

When the moment arrives to choose between finishing her mission or preserving what remains of the district, the decision will demand more than skill.


Trigger Warnings:
Sexual assault and abuse, physical violence, death of a child, death, kidnapping and abduction, torture, war, killing, sex killing, assassination, violence, death and dying, sexism, racism, classism, grief and loss, hate crimes, poverty, sexism & misogyny, white supremacy, sex work & sex slavery, sex work shaming, sexual harassment, abandonment, child abuse, emotional abuse, sex addiction, building collapse, cults, explosions, hostage situation, imprisonment & incarceration, knife, sword & axe violence, physical assault, murder & attempted murder, poisoning, torture, genocide, massacres and mass murders, alcohol consumption & abuse, dead bodies & body parts, decapitation, dismemberment, genital mutilation, needles, physical injuriess:

Sexual assault and abuse, physical violence, death of a child, death, kidnapping and abduction, torture, war, killing, sex killing, assassination, violence, death and dying, sexism, racism, classism, grief and loss, hate crimes, poverty, sexism & misogyny, white supremacy, sex work & sex slavery, sex work shaming, sexual harassment, abandonment, child abuse, emotional abuse, sex addiction, building collapse, cults, explosions, hostage situation, imprisonment & incarceration, knife, sword & axe violence, physical assault, murder & attempted murder, poisoning, torture, genocide, massacres and mass murders, alcohol consumption & abuse, dead bodies & body parts, decapitation, dismemberment, genital mutilation, needles, physical injuries

Amazon 


About the Author:

Linktree
I was born in the Philippines, grew up in Papua New Guinea, and migrated to the US 11 years ago (after over 21 years of waiting for a visa). From experiencing living in a culture where cannibals were normal, to growing up in a culture where we're taught to just appreciate what we have and just shake away the negative emotions, I feel like I have a lot of demons to fight that I'd love to put into stories. I've traveled a lot, having been to most of Asia and North America. With all of the experiences I have and the background I've come from, my entire life I've had to deal with mental health issues. 

With regular therapy, a lot of self-reflection and acceptance of who I am and what my body allows me to have, and my love of writing, I'd like to write books that help women with managing their mental health, too. 

Currently, I'm a UX content designer, writing content for software apps. I live in the mountains of Colorado with my husband, 2 dogs, and a cat. 

Heart of the Ash Wood (The Mythic Bones Duology Book 2) by Kate Gateley + giveaway

Heart of the Ash Wood (The Mythic Bones Duology Book 2)
by Kate Gateley
June 30, 2026
Cover art by Britt Low @covet_design⁠

Dual POV⁠ (+1)
Canadian PNW backdrop⁠
”Slutty little glasses"
Men in therapy⁠
Neurodiversity Rep.
Unique magic & weapons lore
Grumpy/sunshine⁠
Open door romance⁠
Druids, plants, and science⁠
FMCs who are 30+ (and MMCs who are 40+)⁠
A satisfying HEA ... at long last.⁠

𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣?⁠

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱—𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺.⁠


𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙏 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘼𝙎𝙃 𝙒𝙊𝙊𝘿 is the second novel in Kate Gateley's latest contemporary fantasy and romance series, the Mythic Bones Duology, a standalone story set within the “Lost Wells” world. It's perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches and Outlander, with a modern, Canadian twist.⁠

Amazon



Book 1
Amazon

About the Author:
website
Kate Gateley is an award-winning Canadian contemporary fantasy and romance author. She holds a BA in Linguistics and a BSc in Physiology from the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, the Federation of BC Writers, the Vancouver Island Romance Authors, and the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Her ongoing study of ancestral memory and her endless curiosity about human psychology (among other side quests) continue to inform her writing and earn her honours as an author, including two consecutive Canadian Book Club Award wins and three shortlist nominations for the novels of The Lost Wells Trilogy.

Kate currently lives, writes, and creates on a small farm in traditional, unceded Quw’utsun territory (Cowichan Bay, BC) with her wonderfully helpful husband, two amazing kids, two dogs, two geese, and a whole lot of ducks and chickens. She enjoys a wide variety of hobbies, drinks a great deal of coffee, and is barefoot as often as possible.

Follow @kategateleyauthor for more updates!⁠

@rrbooktours

#canadianauthor #themythicbonesduology #heartoftheashwood #romancebooks #fantasy

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