#WOTR25 #AuthorSpotlight #AttendingAuthor – Ginny Sterling

Ginny Sterling

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Ginny Sterling – avid writer, coffee addict, Star Wars freak.

How did you hear about this event?

Jennifer Laslie

How many years have you attended?

This will be my first year

What genres do you write?

Contemporary, Military, Historical, Small town, RomCom (I write a lot)

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Forever Faithful

What is one fun fact about you?

I know wayyyy too much about cars

What are your social links?

https://linktr.ee/ginny_sterling

What are you buy links?

Writersontheriver.com

#WOTR25 #Paranormal #Audio #Zombie – Demon Ember, Resurrection Chronicles book 1 by MJ Haag and Becca Vincenza

MJ Haag is our attending author.

Mya’s world is falling apart. After a series of earthquakes, deadly animals with glowing red eyes begin attacking people and start the spread of a zombie-like plague. Safety is just a memory as she tries to make her way home. When a different creature attacks the people helping her reach Oklahoma City, Mya is sure she’ll never see the light of another day.

Despite his eerie yellow eyes and very sharp teeth, the grey-skinned creature is more intelligent and humanlike than he first appears. He’s determined to keep Mya by his side and protect her from the new world’s dangers. When his path starts taking her further away from home, she must choose between safety and her family.

**Recommended for mature readers
***Part 1 of 3

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I am stumped as to how I feel about this book.  I will say the narration was decent.  I thought she did a great job varying the voices for each character.

Now the book…..ok this is gonna ramble.  LOL

The beginning of the story was awesome.  It was fast paced and full of action….. zombies and hell hounds attacking all over the world at the same time.  I was totally invested.  Then when we meet Drav, who is a Demon?????  Alien???? And he takes particular interested in our main character Mya after killing all the people she is with…like why did she survive?

That is when the story’s breaks hit …hard.  The story slows to a crawl….like crawl crawl.

Drav is learning the language and Mya is being ridiculious. Drav is doing all to protect her and Mya isn’t listening to him.  Drav and his caveman speech got a bit old.

Yet, I still wanted to know why….why did all of this happen???  Why is Drav protecting Mya.  Why did he punch his fellow Demon/Alien friend???  I understand the obsession with boobs and her lady bits toward the end of the story but hearing BOOBS all the time got redundant.

So I think I am going to sit on this and see if I want to continue.  The series has like 10 books but Mya and Drav are just 3 books.  I dunno.  I am not sure.  Like I wanna know but the slowness of the story made it difficult.  But I am wondering if Drav listened to some naughty audio books when she gave him an iPod to listen to books to increase his language???  LOL  I mean that could get interesting.

MJ Haag is the bestselling author of the Beastly Tales and the Resurrection Chronicles. Writing as both MJ Haag and Melissa Haag, she has sold more than three hundred thousand copies worldwide and authored several other series, including the Judgement of the Six and Of Fates and Furies.

She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn’t take much in life seriously, including her author photo.

She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.

#WOTR25 #AuthorSpotlight #AttendingAuthor #MajorEventSponsor – Kate Hawthorne

Kate Hawthorne

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Kate Hawthorne and I’m your favorite authors favorite author. I write kinky gay romance as Kate Hawthorne and kinky sapphic romance as Nikki Markham. I’ve been publishing for almost seven years and I’m showing no signs of slowing down. I live in Louisville with my husband, daughter, and pets, and when I’m not busy writing, I’m reading or talking about books. I love coffee, wine, and a good bloody mary.

How did you hear about this event?

I was trolling the internet for ways to amuse myself and meet new readers, then covid happened, and here we are.

How many years have you attended?

2020 was supposed to be my first year, but covid, so this will be my 6th year, which is wild!

What genres do you write?

kinky and contemporary LGBT romance, and if all goes well, I’m venturing into the world of dark academia in 2025

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Unfettered is a fan favorite book that I don’t think gets enough love, so it’s one I always recommend, but also Humbled because it’s a good segue into my a series with some of my favorite characters.

What is one fun fact about you?

I believe in ghosts!

What are your social links?

http://facebook.com/authorkatehawthorne

http://threads.net/kate.hawthorne

http://instagram.com/kate.hawthorne

www.katehawthornebooks.com

http://tikotok.com/@katehawthornebooks

What are you buy links?

http://author.to/katehawthorne

Writersontheriver.com

#WOTR25 #newrelease #teacherstudent #agegap #paranormal #shifter #witch – Stone Crest, Rise of Raven book 1 by S.J. Chaynie

Stone Crest : Rise of a Raven

A chance encounter.
A blue-eyed Raven.
A single curse.
She’s not supposed to be mine. Not just because I’m her professor, or she’s my student, but because of what I am. A man with a mask. A shifter with a curse. But I can’t stay away. Not when I know the beauty of her heart, and not when her life is in danger. Truths are revealed, secrets unveiled, and when my wolf decides she’s ours, there’s no turning back. I’ve always protected Stone Crest, but now, I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting her.

Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven is a standalone professor/student shifter romance with no cheating and a HEA.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Angie

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

When I was told that the author was writing a paranormal story I was over the moon.  Paranormal was mu jam.  Knowing how great of a writer she is, I knew she would nail the story and boy was I right.

Raven is being forced to go to an college by her overbearing, rich, “important” father.  He doesn’t want her to ruin the good family name after what she recently did!!

Raven meets her roomie Prestley (who I love so much and cannot wait for what is in store for her and Dec) that forces her to come out of her room to hang out.  When she is hangin’ with her one night she runs into a tall drink of water.  After a one night stand she strolls into her class to find he is her teacher!!!  WHOOOOP.

Locke is stunned stupid when he sees the woman he met on the side of the road who has captures his heart and mind is a STUDENT!!  WOOF he broke meg rules.

The story is amazing.  Raven and Locke are fighting their attraction while we are also finding out all of their backstory which is amazing.  Raven has secrets.  Loche has secrets.  Dec has something happening that I need to know forbook 2.  The rest of Loche’s team are having issues as well.

This story was not long enough.  The story has so much happening that I couldn’t put the story down.  I am also very excited the future stories in the series because its going to be

S.J. Chaynie is a small-town Texas girl who has found a love for writing. She enjoys writing romance, with a sprinkle of suspense, and a little humor. If she is not busy writing her newest ideas, she is spending time with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She believes a good book and a lot of laughs is the best medicine. She brings suspense, love, angst, and sometimes the occasional heartbreak to her stories. Always a HEA, but every character and story she holds close to her heart and hopes they touch yours as well.

#review #newrelease #partofaseries Whispered Southern Secrets (Magnolia Grove 11) by Gail Haris

Millard and Minnie own Mimi’s Gasoline Grove.
A staple in the community.
Everyone goes there for their sweet tea, full-service, and gossip. Especially now that their granddaughter has moved back.

And she’s been spotted being friendly with the new, young, and handsome preacher.

They share a secret, and in the small town of Magnolia Grove, everyone is whispering about it.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201819676-whispered-southern-secrets

Amazon https://amzn.to/3Tob906

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review.

Honey found herself at the local bar to sing some karaoke and have a few drinks, she found herself thinking it was her turn to sing, and it wasn’t it was a very good-looking man, singing her song. she found herself stuck on him and drowning in his voice, they meet, and he wants her name Honey has 2 rules when she goes out 1) no names and 2) no hooks-up, but she then finds herself breaking her rules and in the sheets with this mystery military man. after 3 years of being away from home and a divorce later Honey was moving back to the small town, she always considered Honey finds herself back in Magnolia Grove for her bestie’s grandmother’s funeral and she wasn’t not going to show up for her. home. Honey still can’t get her mind off of her one night stand she never does that but with it had been 3 years it was definitely a wild night she knew she would never see the mystery man again, well she didn’t think she would until she heard his magical voice in no other place then behind the pudendum at Sunday service and he’s the preachers son. Honey is traumatized and Mr. preacher man is just as shocked, sermons, and trying to get Honey’s heart is what he’s working on being back in the small town, will he be able to pray and get into her heart or will the devil get to it first. this was a very slow start with a lot of repeating in the first few chapters but then it started picking up and was good.

Gail Haris believes in fairytales, love, and laughter as the best medicine. She has somewhat of a warped charm.

Steamy with a dash of sugar! Gail loves blending romance out of life’s everyday chaos. Stories filled with humor and steam and moments of sweetness, along with suspense and twists. Death… and then sprinkle some glitter. “Let’s make it awkward” is her motto.

Gail enjoys living in a small town in Southeast Missouri, and then taking adventures all over the world with her two fierce princesses and Boo Bear aka her ultimate real-life book boyfriend and high school sweetheart – basically the love of her life.

When she’s not getting into mischief or scheming with her two girls, she’s busy coming up with crazy scenarios for her characters.

Using coffee and her imagination, Gail writes contemporary romances that blend laughter and true love out of everyday chaos. She writes in a variety of genres including romantic comedy, romantic suspense, and new adult/coming of age romance.

Hopefully by following her dream of becoming an author, she can be an example to her daughters that their dreams can become a reality. Maybe she can encourage you, too.

Never stop believing in love, dreams, and yourself. And coffee…don’t give up on coffee and books 😉

#WOTR25 #AuthorSpotlight #AttendingAuthor – Jade Waltz/Tera Nova

Jade Waltz

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m a mother of two boys and a pair of cats – plus about a hundred or so succulents. lol I love musicals, video games, and knitting when I’m not reading or writing. My favorite color is green, and if I’m reborn, I would love to be a housecat… or a dragon. 6.^

How did you hear about this event?

I’m a local author, but I heard about the event from an editor of mine.

How many years have you attended?

This is my 4th year!

What genres do you write?

Sci-fi Romance, Alien Romance, OV Romance, Monster Romance, Reverse Harem / PolyAm Romance, LGBT+ Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

“Project: Adapt – Found” if you enjoy reverse harem, and “Across the Stars” if you enjoy dragons, dragon riders, and slow burn alien romances.

What is one fun fact about you?

I write marching band drill (those pictures marching bands make on the football field when they play their music).

What are your social links?

Jade Waltz:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorjadewaltz
Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjadewaltz
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jade-waltz
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJadeWaltz
Website – Newsletter Sign-Up:
www.jadewaltz.com

Tera Nova:
Website – Newsletter Sign-Up:
www.authorteranova.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorteranova
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/teranovaauthor/
Linktree:
linktr.ee/authorteranova
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tera-nova

What are you buy links?

Jade Waltz:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jade-Waltz/author/B07N546FGF

Tera Nova:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tera-Nova/author/B0DBL3PQ59

Writersontheriver.com

#ReviewAudioBook – Center Ice (Boston Rebels Series Book 1) – by: Julia Connors – Narrators: Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt


I’ve always been a wild card – the first to start a fight on the ice, and the life of the party off it – but appearances can be deceiving.
Being traded to the Boston Rebels could not have come at a better time. With serious family obligations to fulfill and a contract renewal with a new hockey team on the line, I have no time for anything else. I return to Boston knowing I need to buckle down and focus on what really matters.
But the first night I’m back in town, I come face to face with Audrey, my college calculus tutor. We had a brief fling right before I was drafted into the NHL. Now, her five year old son is standing by her side, and I don’t need a tutor to do that kind of math.
Audrey insists she doesn’t want me involved in Graham’s life unless I can commit to being a dad. With everything else going on, this is the worst possible timing.
But every minute I spend with Graham and Audrey feels exactly right, and I’m left questioning everything I thought I wanted.
Because now my goals are shifting, and getting what I really want might come at the expense of the game I’ve given my entire life to.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this audio one because one hockey players & secret baby and two Andi Arndt was one of the narrators.

Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt did a great job of narrating Drew and Aubrey. They kept me invested in this story I has a hard time pulling myself from the book once I hit play.

Drew Is a hockey star that finds himself back home because he has to help care for his mom. However, when he is at his agent’s house for a party, he comes face to face with his tutor from college and one night stand, Audrey. He gits a big shocker when he also finds himself looking a “mini me” named Graham.

Audrey was Drew’s tutor in college and gave into temptations one night only to realize Drew left her with a keepsake for the rest of her life. She tried to tell Drew about Graham but when Drew failed to call her back after 20 left messages, she realized it was just her and Graham. Well and her family who didn’t know who his dad was.

Audrey was not sure about Drew after he broke her heart so bad but now she also has Graham to protect. Drew has his mind set he is going to be a part of Graham and Audrey life so now is the time to prove he is not the same man she once knew. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this book. Audrey and her family were great. They were the support system she and Graham needed. I have to say I enjoyed seeing how over protective her brother (who is also Drew’s agent) is of Audrey and Graham. To watch how loving and caring Drew is toward his mom and Audrey and Graham is so heartwarming.

Julia grew up on the warm and sunny West Coast, but her first decision as an adult was to trade her flip-flops for snow boots and move to Boston.

She’s been enjoying everything that New England has to offer for over two decades, and now that she’s acclimated to the snowy winters and finally found all the places to get good sushi and tacos, she has zero regrets.

You can usually find her in front of her computer, but when she stops writing she’s most likely to be found outdoors, preferably with a pair of skis or snowshoes strapped to her feet in winter, or on a paddleboard in the summer.

WOTR25 #AuthorSpotlight #AttendingAuthor – Elle James

Elle James

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

ELLE JAMES is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of books including military heroes, cowboys, and intrigues that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. When she’s not at her computer, she’s gardening, traveling, playing with her dogs, Bandit & Charli, and dreaming up new stories

How did you hear about this event?

I was a signing author in 2024. Great event!

How many years have you attended?

1

What genres do you write?

Romantic Suspense, Military romance, western romance, paranormal romance, billionaire and contemporary romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

REMY – book #1 in the Bayou Brotherhood Protectors series

What is one fun fact about you?

They called me the Snake Lady when I worked as an Interpretive Naturalist at an Arkansas State Park, doing live snake demonstrations

What are your social links?

• Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/search?search=elle+james
• Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1441344619422730/
• Amazon page: http://bit.ly/ElleJames-Amazon
• Newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/uih54u0wqg
• Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ellejamesauthor
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ElleJamesAuthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellejamesauthor/
• Website: https://ellejames.com
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28048.Elle_James

What are you buy links?

https://ellejames.com/shop-all/

Writersontheriver.com

#Review – His Shifter Wolf Boss (The Clan of Hogan Falls Book 1) by: Serena Meadows

My clan of wolf shifters wanted me dead for being born a girl… but I didn’t just survive but also met someone that felt like family.

That someone was a boy in the orphanage I grew up in.
I never could have imagined that I’d meet Derek again…
His innocent eyes had a lot of pain in them after all those years.
Perhaps that was the reason I didn’t recognize him at first.

It didn’t matter what my heart felt for him.
I had to keep myself from Derek… at all costs.
There was no way he could find out my real identity.
Derek was human, and I was not.
That was the only fact I needed to remember, especially now that I had hired him as my employee.

But the heart never listens to reason.
One single night changed everything.
The bad boy that I’d been in love with was hiding a secret of his own.
And he was the only one that could make my body shiver with pleasure.

The dream that I’d started living in wasn’t real.
Danger was chasing us… and Derek became the only one that could save my entire world.

Each book in this sexy-as-sin series can each be read as standalones, and has no cliffhangers, but are best read in order.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I picked up this box set simply because I was in the mood for a shifter book.

This was a quick read and was enjoyable. It did start a little slow but worldbuilding so I get it. There were a few things that were different about this book than other shifter books like a shifter could not identify another shifter and why in the world would a pack want to kill off all female children.

Louisa family sent her away when the pack wanted to kill the female children in the pack. They found an orphanage that also took 7 other girls. Millie took all the girls in and raised them. The girls stayed together and are now running the old orphanage as a bed and breakfast together.

Derek remembers living at the orphanage before being adopted. He has had a rough go at life since leaving and just needs to get back there. Once there he finds himself the new handyman for the bed and breakfast. Louisa realizes what Derek has always meant to her and he could be the one that helps her and her sisters when the past comes knocking on their door.

I enjoyed seeing Louisa and Derek get to know each other and overcome their fear of being able to open up to each other. I liked that we got to see interactions between three of the sisters just wish I could have been able to get to know the others a bit more. Can I just say I would love to have a secluded cave and a hot spring to get away from everything once in a while too. My heart warmed when Louisa realized the amount of people she had on her side that wanted to help when she needed it most. This was a quick read but packed full the entire read. I cannot wait to jump in and read the rest of the series.

Serena Meadows has always been obsessed with writing short stories since she was in junior high school. She writes paranormal romance stories of all types but writing about sexy steamy alpha shifters is her passion. She lives in Denver with her two dogs. On her downtime (which is rare), she enjoys hiking and camping in the mountains or riding her bike with her own alpha male to keep her safe and warm. Typically she enjoys an evening curled up buried in a good book or watching Netflix. She also enjoys time with good friends.

Serena is excited to share her work with all of you and looking forward to interacting with her fans!

If you share her passion for big sexy bears and lean, steamy wolves, sign up for Serena Meadows newsletter to receive information about new releases, or how to join her review team!

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5js8ju663t

#WOTR25 #AuthorSpotlight #AttendingAuthor – Allison Temple

Allison Temple

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

My name is Allison (sometimes Alli) Temple. I live in Toronto, Canada with my very patient husband and the world’s cutest team of rescue pets. When I’m not writing, I’m currently obsessed with Korean TV dramas. They’re like novels in TV form! I firmly believe tacos are the perfect food and Bubly is the superior fizzy water brand. My husband and I like to travel. Our last big trip was to Scandinavia and I would go back to Copenhagen in a heartbeat. Next we’re hoping to go to Australia!

How did you hear about this event?

I’d heard how great it was from authors like Kate Hawthorne and Vinni George!

How many years have you attended?

This is my first year attending WOTR

What genres do you write?

LGBTQ+ fantasy and romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

It really depends what you like. For something bite size and bantery, I always recommend Boyfriend With Benefits. If you like time loop hijinks, then My Not-So-Super Blind Date is your story. And you can’t go wrong with lesbian pirates in Uncharted.

What is one fun fact about you?

My first job was working in a family-run deli. One summer I received an award for Most Improved Tomato Slicer. I still have the certificate!

What are your social links?

https://www.instagram.com/allisontemplebooks/,

https://www.facebook.com/allisontemplebooks,

https://www.tiktok.com/@allisontemplebooks

What are you buy links? 

allisontemple.com/books 

Writersontheriver.com