Category Archives: Fantasy Romance

Fantasy Romance, Review, Romantic Comedy, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – All I Wank for Christmas: A Romantic Comedy by Tori Ross

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Tori Ross, author of Contact High and The Cuffing Season Contract, is back with a laugh-out-loud holiday romance sure to jingle your nuts and roast your bells.

After a series of unfortunate events left Holly Hepperdine without an accounting job, the only way to pay bills, pay for her sister’s school, and help her sick mother is to work at the local rub and tug massage parlor, The Happy Stroke Club, making a hundred dollars a “pop.”

Jasper Nicholas is stressed to the max on Christmas Eve. His father is ill, and Jasper has to run the family’s delivery service tonight. On a whim, he stops for a quick massage, realizing too late that there are other perks of the purchased package. He indulges but can’t get the gorgeous woman with the witty banter out of his mind, even after they go their separate ways.

When Jasper comes down Holly’s chimney late on Christmas Eve, she realizes Jasper is Santa Claus’s son and tasked with delivering gifts to the world’s children. He also needs desperate help with navigation and inventory. Can Holly and Jasper keep their hands to themselves long enough to deliver the gifts?

All I Wank for Christmas is an irreverent, raucous romantic comedy standalone, sure to put you in the mood for a happy holiday season…no Happy Stroke Club needed.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

OMG, I just can’t even with this book! I laughed out loud and then had to stop and fan myself. This story will keep you on your toes!

Holly gives a handy to Santa’s son! What more is there to say??? You should literally stop reading this review and just read the book 😊

The story is a bit “over the top” but that is what makes it so great!

Jasper stops at a massage parlor thinking he could relieve some stress. He just didn’t realize the type of parlor he was going into and got so much more than he bargained for from Holly. These two have an instant attraction and both of them can’t stop thinking about each other. When Jasper searches Holly out and lets her in on the secret that he is Santa’s son, she skeptically goes along with it to deliver presents. The night is a disaster and if something can go wrong, it does. But the story and shenanigans that they get into will have you glued to this book eagerly turning to the next page.

We have all heard eleventy billion Santa stories but this one takes the cake! The characters are witty, the banter is hilarious, and the steam level continues to increase throughout the story.

I highly recommend this for a fun, but hawt, Christmas read!

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Tori Ross is the bestselling and award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Her book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and she’s written several shorts, novellas, full-length books and serials. When she’s not writing, she runs a podcast called Sitting Here Reading Corn with Tori Ross and plays pickleball to get out of the house. She lives with her family and a hyper dog that needs extensive training.

Cyborg, Fantasy Romance, Review, Romantic Suspense, Sci Fi

#Review #Cyborgs #HEA – Tin Soldier (Silver Cyborg Series Book 3) by Ava Cuvay

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The Army shuffled Staff Sergeant Gage Austin off to a menial desk job at the Pentagon as hush money… as if he’d admit to anyone he’s a cyborg. Society abhors cyborgs, so Gage keeps to himself and suffers the daily humiliation of an extensive security scan with stoic fortitude. He’s a soldier down to his core processor and would willingly give his all—red blood and blue lubricant—for the land he loves. As such, he accepts the task to locate and safely retrieve missing Pentagon assistant Audra Muir. Yet as sparks sizzle between them, Gage questions whether he’s delivering her to salvation… or doom.

Audra Muir has spent years pilfering secrets about corrupt government oversight of the cybernetics industry under the guise of her job at the Pentagon. As she leaves for breast cancer treatment, she happens upon earth-shattering intel. Determined to hand this information over to the people who will wage that particular war, she battles her own personal recovery and rages against a society that can make a cyborg, but can’t save women from breast cancer. Yet when Gage Austin kisses her, that anger dissipates, replaced by a passion that just might deliver her flagging faith in humanity… and herself.

Gage and Audra find peace from their own inner demons within the heat of each other’s arms. But defeating the evil that is ruining the cybernetics industry is a far bigger enemy, and requires the force of a secret band of rebels and their hidden cyborg army.

Book Three of the Silver Cyborg Series. This story has a romantic happy ending and a resolution of the storyline continuing through books one and two.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This book absolutely blew me away. I finished the story, which is the end of the series, and felt like I lost a limb. Cyborg fan for LIFE!! When you read this book, please make sure that you read the dedication and author notes. This book pulled at my heartstrings in a lot of ways. You will have all the feels right from jump with this one. When Audra and Gage finally come together, they collide and there are fireworks! These two, even though they are fighting their own battles, have been doing a ton on their own because of their own situations (which is explained in the book, so just read it!), and they don’t realize how much they need someone to help them. The best part is they are able to help each other fight their own battles. As the story progresses, they really figure out what is truly worth fighting for. I finished reading this book and just had no clue how I was going to express to anyone how much I love this book AND the series, let alone how I was going to write a review. I don’t think many people are into “cyborg” type romances and what not but the Silver Cyborg series is so much more than that. It is real people, with real problems, that come together to fight for a good cause. But let us not forget the humor, wit and sarcasm that comes right along with these characters. I literally messaged the author when I finished the book and asked why was it over… I know that all good things come to an end. I highly HIGHLY recommend this book and most of all, this series!

Ava Cuvay is an award-winning bestselling author of out of this world Sci-fi and Paranormal Romance featuring sassy heroines, gutsy heroes, passion, adventure… and the word “moist”.

She resides in central Indiana with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder and teen kiddos who think her “Rizz” is “cringe” but she “passes the vibe check” and her books “hit different.” No cap.

She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.

Ava Cuvay – Out of This World Romance

https://facebook.com/AvaCuvayAuthor/

https://instagram.com/avacuvay/

Email: Ava.Cuvay@avacuvay.com

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series

#Review – Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros

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An Instant New York Times Bestseller
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Book

“Suspenseful, sexy, and with incredibly entertaining storytelling, the first in Yarros’ Empyrean series will delight fans of romantic, adventure-filled fantasy.” —Booklist, starred review

“Fourth Wing will have your heart pounding from beginning to end… A fantasy like you’ve never read before.” ―#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout


Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame

I had seen posts about this book for weeks before I purchased it. When one of my friends said that she loved it and I knew that this wasn’t her normal genre, I had to drop everything to read it and boy, man, gosh, am I ever glad I did.

This book was on a whole other level. I haven’t read something like this in years. The world building, the characters, the friendships, the love, the fighting, the grumpy dragons, the sizzling chemistry…man…seriously, I truly have no words.

I couldn’t read this book fast enough. I had to know what all the hype was and I knew that the book ended in some sort of way but I still wasn’t expecting that.

I haven’t felt this way about a book and world since I read The Black Dagger Brotherhood for the very first time.

The world building in this book was top notch, the originality, the heroine…I could keep gushing but trust me when I say this, read this book! I didn’t even read the blurb and went in completely blind and boy am I glad I did. I can’t say it enough but I truly loved this book and it’s now in my top 5 of favourite books I’ve ever read. I don’t re-read books often either but I’m about to jump into re-reading this to get ready for book 2 that comes out on November 7th.

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your world with us and I can’t wait for the rest of this series.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Shifters, Small Town Romance, Witches

#WOTR23 #Review – To Teleport, or Not to Teleport?: Magic and Mayhem Universe by A.J. Renee

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The drama that follows the colorful, supernatural citizens of my town is enough to glue anyone to the couch for a binge sesh.

I used to pride myself in the fact that the most exciting thing affecting my small-town life was my students’ shenanigans. But then my childhood crush returns, setting off a barrage of complex emotions in my witchy heart.

My quirky power of sniffing out secrets starts making my visions go crazy. Being preventable isn’t exactly one of their features, and they’re all targeting him. As if that isn’t stressful enough, my dormant teleporting powers decide it’s time to activate.

My cousin can’t bake her chocolate croissants and sweets fast enough to help me cope with the pitfalls waiting to hit my inner circle. Or how the boy who’d left me has become hotter than the fires of hell.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Oh my stars! Goofy cute but purrrrfectly hawt! These types of stories are the kind that everyone needs, especially if you are trying to get out of a reading slump! This is definitely a dramedy that has everything! There are parts that are the corny type of funny that make you laugh out loud, then you move on to the hawtness that our panther shifter brings to the table, and all wrapped up with some murder mystery. Aileen is our female MC witch with a lot of quirks whose senses start to go even more haywire once her childhood friend, Grayson, returns just as abruptly has he left. Visions start coming and going, she is teleporting to places she doesn’t understand, but one thing that this has in common is Grayson returning to town. Mix in some mischief and murder to round everything off and you won’t be able to put it down. There were literal times that I laughed out loud and then had to turn around and fan myself, LOL! This story was absolutely fun and crazy, but most of all, it kept me entertained! Bravo, AJ!

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AJ Renee is a military wife and mother of three. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

She loves to read and write steamy romance with a happily ever after. When not working, you can find her playing World of Warcraft, board games, or outdoors for a run or hike.

Dragons, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Review, Shifters

#Review #Dragons – What a Dragon Needs (Star of the North Dragons) by Ava Cuvay

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What a Dragon Needs (Star of the North Dragons) by [Ava Cuvay]

Dragon Council Emissary Lucia Bengtsson visits Minnesota’s clan to discover how they thwarted a recent invasion by a long-prophesized World Destroyer. What she finds is a family that welcomes her with an unquestioning warmth she’s never experienced among her own clan members, who have always judged her by the diminutive size of her Light Dragon. Only the sexy yet antagonistic Ivar Drekison demands she prove herself while he keeps her at arms-length. Arms she desperately wants wrapped around her.

Third-born son of the Star of the North clan, Ivar Drekison’s attitude is as sharp and cold as his Metal Dragon’s claws. When Lucia Bengtsson, the gorgeous yet standoffish Dragon Council representative, arrives to interrogate his family on their battle strategies, he senses an underhanded betrayal brewing. While everyone else adores Lucia and her gentle manners, Ivar clashes with her in an attempt to force the truth behind her visit. In doing so, he must also battle his own overwhelming attraction to her.

This novella is the second in the Star of the North Dragon series, which can be read in any order or as standalone novellas.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Dragons! Seriously, need I say more? Ivar will have a special place in my heart forever. He is my soul-dragon. He is brash, rough around the edges and loves to drop the f-bomb (I’m in love!). Lucia is the opposite of everything that Ivar is. She is small, naïve, and very proper. She grew up within the Dragon Council and her family is part of the Elders. She is tasked with going to Minnesota and bringing back a representative from the Drekison family, who saved the world from destruction. She experiences the biggest shot of culture shock when she arrives at the Drekison home. This world is nothing like her own. However, right from the very beginning, Ivar and Lucia are drawn together. Both try to fight it but we all know that just won’t happen. Watching their relationship grow and seeing how Ivar helps Lucia to come out of her shell will make your heart melt. Now, I don’t want this to seem like some mushy, gooey romance, even though it is, but the author inserts the perfect amount of debauchery and shenanigans to make it fun, and HAWT, too!

This book is a little softer than the first because the fight with the World Destroyer is over, but it just as swoon worthy. To anyone that reads this, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF IVAR! HE’S MINE!

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Ava Cuvay writes out of this world romance featuring sassy heroines, often-alien-but-always-sexy heroes, and an alcoholic beverage or two… Set in a galaxy far, far away. She resides in central Indiana, USA with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder, kiddos who are growing up without her permission, and two kitties that make her laugh. She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Review, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 – #Review – The Villainous Wonderland Boxset: The Complete Series by A.K. Koonce

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The Villainous Wonderland Boxset: The Complete Series by [A.K. Koonce]

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I am not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started reading this series. I knew that it was an Alice in Wonderland retelling and I have read many retellings. However, this one took me by surprise. It was not what I was expecting! I am generally not a big fan of RH but this wasn’t all about the bedroom action. There is a great story unfolding with each page that is turned. The harem of men all have their own secrets and agendas but so does Madison our MC. She is brought to Wonderland in hopes of fooling the king that she is the real Alice. However, the real Alice ends up showing up, at the most inopportune time might I add, and then the real craziness begins. It’s a great story, lots of banter, tons of epic one liners, but a heartfelt story all going on at the same time. I absolutely recommend this series! You shouldn’t even have wasted your time reading this review, you should have already one-clicked and started the series!

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A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harme, Review, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 #Review – Under the Lies (Villainous Wonderland Series Book 3) by A.K. Koonce

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Under the Lies: A Reverse Harem Series (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 3) by [A.K. Koonce]

They pushed too far. The demented Hatter and all of his minions can test me all they like, but they just crossed a line.

Alixx Stone. That’s my line. Screw with my life all you like but don’t threaten my men.

The problem is, even if I save my friends, it won’t be enough. There’s an entire Kingdom who have been hurt by one man’s selfishness. Elder Liddell’s dark secrets are endless and now he’s dragged me into his twisted past.

My own flesh and blood did this.

And I’m starting to realize, I’m just as destructive as he is.

This is a Reverse Harem series, recommended for readers 18 and over.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Whoa! This is where things get really dark but with a lot of clarity. Elder Liddell is a… Very. Bad. Man. He has messed with the wrong Alice and she is about to shut shhh down! Madison has had an awful journey with cancer and went on a crazy tour to finish her bucket list. Her bucket list never had Wonderland listed on it and now the bucket list has completely changed. Wonderland has turned out to not be a fairytale with all of its scattered happiness and permanent pain. Madison shares some really intimate moments with her men (love em all!) but these were loving… and hawt… looooong moments. Once Elder Liddell’s secrets are finally out and Madison realizes just how involved she really is, things get twisted. This is a page turner! You won’t be able to help from turning each page to see the next moment for the intimate touch, the craziness that Elder Liddell brings out in Madison, or the absolute love and adoration of a new found family. The ending of the book wrecked me! It was the perfect ending but dammit, I almost cried. I am not a crier. I repeat, I Am Not a Crier! The story was amazing! Bravo for an incredible ending!

Author Logo

A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 #Review – Within the Wonder (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 2) by A.K. Koonce

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Within the Wonder: A Reverse Harem Series (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 2) by [A.K. Koonce]

What happens when the woman you’re pretending to be stares you down face to face?

Things get awkward.

And deadly.

In Wonderland, there can only be one Alice. A series of absurd trials and dangerous games are the only way to solve who is the real Alice and who is the fake.

If I win, I’ll have the power to save two kingdoms. If I lose, it’ll be more than just the Hatter who’s lethally mad.

Fake it till you make it, right?

Let the Alice Trials begin. Welcome to Wonderland, bitches.

This is a reverse harem series recommended for readers 18 and over.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

HOLD THE PHONE! Whaaat? There’s another Alice! The real Alice? Now cue the Slim Shady music! Ok, so if you made it to the second book, you will completely, without a doubt, understand where I am coming from. At this point, we know that Madison’s vagina is not broken and will not be put up on a shelf to collect dust. Whew! That would be a horror story! But now we have possibly the real Alice. The real Wonderland is even crazier than in the first story. But I really love how the villains are so easy to hate AND fall for at the same time. Everyone has secrets and boy are they surfacing! And now that the harem is really happening, these men get frustrating as all get out! They all want to protect Madison, but by protecting her they are telling her what to do or not letting her in on what should be done.

“It’s like having an agnel and a devil being your voice of reason, except the angel thinks with his fu**ink cock, and the devil…also thinks entirely with his sinful cock.”

ACCURATE!

Oh, I am not sure why I go on with this review. I am on to find out what happens next. I suggest you stop reading this review and hurry on with reading this book!

Author Logo

A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Review, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 #Review – Into the Madness (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 1) by A.K. Koonce

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Into the Madness: A Fantasy Romance Series (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 1) by [A.K. Koonce]

I didn’t fall into a place of wonder and madness. I was taken.

This world is a perfect, enchanting wonderland. The people here are just as alluring.

But we all have our secrets.

Like the white rabbit who’s leading a rebellion right under the King’s nose. Or the sweet March Hare who’s actually an enemy spy. Or my one true ally in all of this, a killer who’s so feared they won’t even say his real name.

As for me, I have more secrets than all of them combined. Because Wonderland is waiting for the beloved Alice Liddell.

And I’m just the bitch pretending to be her.

This is a reverse harem series, recommended for readers 18 and over.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Being the queen of bad decisions can feel reckless but relaxing at the same time. When you are going to mess up, you may as well do it proper-like. And this is how we meet Madison, our pretend Alice. She has quite the past. Then, one evening after she was terribly disappointed with her choice of man in an attempt to sow some wild oats, she finds herself in a mysterious world where all things are a bit wonky. One thing that I love about Madison is, even though the hand she was dealt was crap, she ends up being a fighter. This Wonderland is definitely a darker version than we are used to and the characters are very, very different. Madison even chuckles to herself throughout the book as she is putting together which person is who from the Alice in Wonderland fairytale that we all know. I was very intrigued as the story continued and pieces came together. There is a lot of angst, snark and wit. However, “Alice” (who is really Madison) is promised to another and these men cannot go any further with her. It is tension filled, but the wait is totally worth it because once the collision occurs, fireworks explode…and nooooot with you think it will be!!!! What I am saying here is, this is a must read. Stay tuned because I am going in for the next book!

Author Logo

A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.

Apocalyptic, Cyborg, Fantasy Romance, Review, Sci Fi, Suspense

#Review – Tin Toy (Silver Cyborg Book 2) by Ava Cuvay

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Tin Toy (Silver Cyborg Book 2) by [Ava Cuvay]

Betty Hayworth is hiding from her life. She endured cybernetic enhancements to serve her country as an international spy, but infiltrated top-secret information from her own government as a high-end escort instead. So, she ran away to a small Indiana neighborhood where she works as a librarian and fears her handler will track her down or her cyborg status will be exposed to a society that abhors them. None of which helps her find the kind of love and happiness she reads about in her romance novels.

Everett Dean is running for his life. As founder and CEO of the premier cybernetic design company, someone is trying to destroy him. His life, his company, his legacy. He needs to discover the truth and expose whoever is behind the recent attempts on his life, before they try again. This search leads him to an unassuming library where he meets an enigmatic woman who looks like a pin-up model, fights like a trained assassin, and kisses like an angel. All of which inspire him to reassess his life’s priorities.

Their mutual attraction is a risk neither can afford. But as complications from their secrets arise, they must learn to trust each other if they hope to survive.

Book Two of the Silver Cyborg Series trilogy. This story has a romantic happy ending and a storyline continuing to book three.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

What do you do when you realize God is just a man and that man is your maker? Betty is a librarian but she is so much more than just a librarian. This woman is a beautiful bad@ss. She was used and abused but is trying to just live and come out on top. This woman has an insanely crazy past. She sold her soul to the devil himself and became a cyborg. She left that life trying to just live and be normal when one day, the man that was behind giving humans a second chance as cyborgs, quite literally lands in her lap. Everett is on the run and he has no clue why! He is a millionaire with crazy intelligence and a great government contract, aaaaand then he was no longer. He becomes a vagabond and ends up in Betty’s library trying to look for answers. Their worlds collide and Pandora’s Box explodes open. These two are both trying to distinguish between the good guys and bad guys all while having something vital in common: secrets. What would the neighbors think? This book is seriously intense but has all of my favorite things like snark, angst, secrets, sarcasm, fighting, serious sexy time, and an ending that will keep you wanting more!

Ava Cuvay

Ava Cuvay writes out of this world romance featuring sassy heroines, often-alien-but-always-sexy heroes, and an alcoholic beverage or two… Set in a galaxy far, far away. She resides in central Indiana, USA with her own scruffy-looking nerfherder, kiddos who are growing up without her permission, and two kitties that make her laugh. She believes life is too short to bother with negative people, everything is better with Champagne, and Han Solo shot first. When not writing, Ava is thinking about writing. Or wine. And she’s always thinking about bacon.