Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) thought it was time to shine a light on all of the wonderful volunteers who have played their part in making Writers on the River such a successful event year after year. As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the people behind the scenes have to say about Writers on the River.

Today we chatting with Robyn Webber.  Writers on the River Head Security and Line Keeper. I just made up the second title but it fits! Before the signing begins, you can find her at the entry to the Dorris Talk greeting all of the guest who are there to hear how Dorris found Thistle Farms, the wonderful charity we all come together to support each July. Then on to the lunch line and finally off to the doors with Angie to countdown to them opening for VIP and then GA. 

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) thought it was time to shine a light on all of the wonderful volunteers who have played their part in making Writers on the River such a successful event year after year. As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the people behind the scenes have to say about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with Dakota Johnson! On event day you can more than likely find Dakota in the raffle room. She is in there every year making sure the constant stream of people get their tickets in a timely manner. I know every year when I see her I can count on friendly harassment and a whole lot of laughs. Love you, Kodi!

🎟Was this your first WOTR? If no, how many have you attended?

8? Idk lol I was like 12 when the first one happened

Well that is all for today, check back all month long for more Writers on the River reader and volunteer spotlights.

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!

For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.

www.writersontheriver.com

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

4 stars

I’ve read dark stuff. I love dark stuff. And this book fits the bill if you are seeking a dark MM “romance” I use romance in quotations because I’m still a bit undecided on the romance aspect. I mean, I was swooning over an actual psychopath and worried for what would happen when the other shoe dropped, so to speak. That isn’t really romantic. That is freaking crazy!

Noah was a master manipulator. He knew just what to do and say to have Chase begging for more time with him. Chase had some childhood trauma he hadn’t really dealt with and Noah used that to his advantage. With that being said I believe Chase really did love Noah. And Noah, while he is not capable of love. I believe that he “loved” Chase in his own way. A way not accepted by societies standards. But they say there is someone for everyone. I suppose that also applies to psychopaths.

Syn lives in the countryside and loves getting lost in books. An introvert who loves all dark romance.

Assassin Scarlett Fletcher is supposedly dead. Lyssa intends to make it so. Just…not yet.

Lyssa, the Wolf of the Styx Syndicate, has a simple plan. Hide her enemy-turned-uneasy-ally, train her up, and use her to take down Grandmother. Then Lyssa will follow through on the kill order and end the assassin for once and for all.

But nothing to do with Scarlett has ever been simple.

As Lyssa and Scarlett work together to track down the elusive Grandmother, lines begin to blur. Every sparring session just brings them closer together, and it’s getting harder and harder for Lyssa to stay objective.

And when more secrets finally come to light, the Wolf must make an impossible choice.

Will Lyssa stay loyal to the family she swore allegiance to? Or will she protect the troubled woman who’s slowly been stealing her heart?

Wolves at the Gate is part two of the Red Rivals Duet, a twisty, steamy contemporary Sapphic mafia romance based (very) loosely on the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. Reader discretion is advised for this enemies-to-forbidden-lovers story, and content notes are available on the Copyright page.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

5 stars

…I told you I refused to accept the end of book 1! Now that I got that off my chest, I can carry on with my review.

Scarlet killed syndicate members, therefore she must die. Lyssa has known this from jump, it was a direct order from her boss, Hadria. However, the longer she waits, the harder it becomes to off Scarlett. Because somehow the woman has managed to quickly take possession over Lyssas mind, body, and soul. Scarlett has made the Wolf venerable. She’s making mistakes. Mistakes that could cost her literally everything.

This one may not have been all hearts and flowers but it didn’t bother me in the least bit. It was both thrilling and addictive. I read it in a day. There was blood, violence and mayhem throughout. These 2 are my favorite couple of the 3 we have met over the course of this trio of duets. I cannot wait to see what Persephone Black comes up with next. I’m addicted to all her words and I’m in it for the long haul!

Persephone Black likes Ice Queens who melt behind closed doors, Underworld Empresses who protect what’s theirs, and Bad Girls who stay bad to the end…but win the love of a good woman.

If that sounds enticing to you too, you should read her books. Villains are (anti)heroines and danger is an aphrodisiac in Persephone Black’s thrilling Sapphic Mafia romance novels.

Lyssa can’t resist a damsel in distress…but she’ll wish she resisted this one.

The ferocious Styx Syndicate enforcer and trainer known as “the Wolf” has always been the hunter, never the hunted. So when Lyssa sees the gorgeous Scarlett getting harassed by thugs in a dive bar she’s visiting for intel, she jumps straight into protective mode.

But Lyssa soon discovers that not every damsel needs saving.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

4 Stars

My eyes burn from crying. This was a rough one. I was emotionally invested from the moment these 2 met. Despite knowing the inevitable was going to happen, I kinda just hoped for a miracle.

Lyssa and Scarlett are both bat shit crazy. Maybe that is what made them such a perfect pair. I mean, there’s no need to mince words, these women are both violent assassin’s. With that being said- violent assassin’s need love too.

Secrets and lies eventually catch up with you, no matter how much you try to ignore or outrun them. Well, Scarlett and Lyssa find that out the hard way. I guess I’m perfectly okay with them choosing the angst filled route to eventual happiness because, lez-be-honest, the craziness made the sexy time that much more hot!

These 2 are made for one another and I refuse to accept the ending. Lol I’m hilarious, like I have any control over it. This is not a choose your own lesbian adventure. I’m so happy book 2 is has been released. I shall start that now so I don’t sit here dwelling on things…

Persephone Black likes Ice Queens who melt behind closed doors, Underworld Empresses who protect what’s theirs, and Bad Girls who stay bad to the end…but win the love of a good woman.

If that sounds enticing to you too, you should read her books. Villains are (anti)heroines and danger is an aphrodisiac in Persephone Black’s thrilling Sapphic Mafia romance novels.

Nero Hunter is tired. He’s tired of early mornings chasing down skips. He’s tired of Shamu jokes and dealing with idiots. He’s tired of being alone. But agreeing to do one little favor for a friend turns the tide and brings Nero face-to-face with his destiny.

Felix White is unlucky. When his life is threatened and he’s hauled into police custody for safekeeping, the last thing he expects is to meet his fated mate. Especially when his mate is a giant killer whale shifter, who is also his new bodyguard.

But there is more to the plot against Felix than meets the eye, and Nero and his brothers have to work together to figure out who is after Felix before it’s too late…before Nero loses the mate he just found.

Black & White is book one in the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA) series featuring an orca shifter art thief turned bounty hunter, a sea otter shifter hacker who might have pissed off the wrong people, and a group of orca brothers who will do anything—even if it’s not quite legal—to save the newest member of their family.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Nero and Felix– these 2 are opposite in every way shape and form. Literally. But fate gives zero Fs about that kind of thing. These 2 were fated mates and instead of insta-love, this was an insta-mate situation. I just loved how much Nero wanted to protect Felix from everything. They were perfect for one another. This book was so good. I loved meeting all of Nero’s Orca brothers; they are all amazing and made for an interesting cast of characters.
As with all of Vinni’s work, I went in blind. I was not expecting the suspense/thriller elements in the plot but I’m not complaining. If you’ve ever watched the police drama, White Collar, it gave off those vibes for me. I’m hooked as I know there is a whole lot more to the mystery within the story. ORCA is on the case though and I seriously cannot wait for the next book in the series. I have a feeling it’s going to be fire!

Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When she’s not writing, Vinni can be found working for her family’s business, which provides plenty of plot bunnies. In her spare time, Vinni is a soccer mom who dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.

Vinni’s debut novel, Hold the Door, was a finalist and runner-up in Contemporary Gay Romance in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards.

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Persephone Black likes Ice Queens who melt behind closed doors, Underworld Empresses who protect what’s theirs, and Bad Girls who stay bad to the end…but win the love of a good woman.

If that sounds enticing to you too, you should read her books. Villains are (anti)heroines and danger is an aphrodisiac in Persephone Black’s thrilling Sapphic Mafia romance novels.

Amazon

Goodreads

My 5 star review for Her Mafia Queen

https://www.persephone-black.com    https://www.instagram.com/authorpersephoneblack/   https://www.facebook.com/authorpersephoneblack

Juno Bianchi: Ruthless. Deadly. Glacial.
And oh, she makes me burn.

When my Mob Boss father forces me into an arranged marriage with the billionaire heiress to the Bianchi Family, everything changes.

At first I resent being treated like a bargaining chip, but Juno captivates me in ways I’ve never known. Her Ice Queen facade hides a simmering volcano just waiting to be unleashed, and her commanding touch sets my body on fire.

But loving Juno could destroy me…

There are people out there who are just as dangerous as she is, and they won’t hesitate to use me to get to her.

With enemies closing in around us, can I trust my Mafia bride to keep me safe?

***

Opposites attract in this enemies to lovers romance as the reckless street-racing daughter of an Irish Mob Boss finds a way to defrost her Mafia Ice Queen wife.

This is a steamy F/F Mafia romance with some dark elements and a lot of angst. Content notes are available on the Copyright page.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Tenise

Juno’s father has arranged for a marriage between his Juno and Caitlin the daughter of the head of the Irish family.
Caitlin is recklessly drifting trough life with zero fs given for her own personal safety at times but she is good at what she does and she’s making bank winning these races. Now she finds out that is all over because her father has arranged for her to marry Juno.
This is going to be terrible for Caitlin as she is such a free spirit. With no other choice– she marries Juno– but adamantly refuses to submit to the Crime Queen.
Junos main focus is family. As such when she is told she must marry Caitlin FOR the family, no matter what, she knows she must do this. After all it is for the family.

Neither woman can deny the chemistry that builds to a fever pitch during their honeymoon. Juno convinces herself that she needs to get the woman out of her system while Caitlins vow to not submit seems to wane a bit the more they get to know one another. Things aren’t meant to stay this way though, it’s the honeymoon after all. Just the 2 of them with no distractions, what happens when they return to the real world is the real test…
At home things happen that change the game for both women. But in this world nothing lasts forever and it’s best to never develop feelings for another as love can make you weak and theres no room for the weak in the violent world of crime. Juno has an empire to run and has vowed to keep Caitlin safe. Even if it is at the expense of her own heart.
This book had me on the edge of my seat and don’t even get me started on the perfection of that ending. I know, some will argue with me on that but I love a good cliffy and this book did not disappoint. It’s been 2 weeks since I finished Her Mafia Bride and I’ve yet to start another. I’m ready for book 2 now so I’m off to finally start it after this extremely long hiatus.

Persephone Black likes Ice Queens who melt behind closed doors, Underworld Empresses who protect what’s theirs, and Bad Girls who stay bad to the end…but win the love of a good woman.

If that sounds enticing to you too, you should read her books. Villains are (anti)heroines and danger is an aphrodisiac in Persephone Black’s thrilling Sapphic Mafia romance novels.

​

Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.

Amazon

Goodreads

I figured the best review for me to share today is the one that changed my mind about an entire genre. Thanks for opening my eyes to a whole new world, Vinni!

Unlikely fated mates buuuut I guess stranger things have happened. One being that I even picked up this book to read. Lol. Nothing against the book OR the author. I’m just not into shifters and definitely not into mpreg…
ANNNND now I’m basically lying to your faces! Its because of this book I’m obsessed. Like is the next book out? Did I only like it because it was written by Vinni George and I love all her words? Well YES BUT that is not the ONLY reason. I enjoyed all the other things too such as the plot, the genre, the cute af love story between 2 different shifter species that was both adorable and addictive. Give me more. I’m hooked. Thanks for helping me branch out because I’m not sure that I would have had it been any other authors words. I’m glad I did because now I’m open to a whole new world of romance.

The queen of Chicago’s criminal underworld, Hadria “Hades” Imperioli, is no stranger to power and danger.

When she set Aurora Verderosa free, Hadria thought she was doing the right thing—for once in her life.

But now the only light in her dark world has been ripped from her, and Hadria faces a vulnerability she never knew.

As Hadria frantically searches the city’s underbelly to save her lover, the Syndicate she leads becomes fractured, with some questioning her right to lead.

Hadria is forced to confront the idea that saving Aurora might mean giving up her criminal kingdom. But the crime queen is determined to reclaim her love—whatever it takes.

Can Hadria save Aurora and claim her forever?

Or will the darkness she revels in overtake her at last and destroy any chance at love?

Consort of the Crime Queen is the thrilling conclusion to the Underworld Duet, a steamy contemporary Sapphic mafia romance based (very) loosely on the myth of Hades and Persephone. Reader discretion is advised, and content notes are available on the Copyright page.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Tenise

The light to Hades darkness has been stolen from her and she will not rest until the Sunshine returns to Elysium.
The foolish men in Hadrias family thinking they can get away with the things they do without repercussions are sorely mistaken. Hadria is out for blood! She will get what belongs to her back and she vows to never lose sight of her light again.

Hades has surrounded herself with a group of mercenaries for the majority of her adult life. I mean she is a cold blooded killer so I’m thinking, probably not many swoon-worthy moments would happen. Well I thought wrong. I was ooohing and ahhhing over all the super cute couple-y moments throughout the duet.

Poor Aurora she hasn’t felt a sense of family really ever, despite the fact she grew up in a home with both of her parents. The longer she is at Elysium a found family starts to form around her. There within the walls of the dark castle, she finds a purpose in life for the first time ever.

I cannot say enough good things about this duet. I’ve been recommending it to all of my reader friends. I’m so happy there are another 2 books by this author I still haven’t read and it is almost spring break which means I will have extra time to read them. Thanks to the author for giving me my reading groove back!

Persephone Black likes Ice Queens who melt behind closed doors, Underworld Empresses who protect what’s theirs, and Bad Girls who stay bad to the end…but win the love of a good woman.

If that sounds enticing to you too, you should read her books. Villains are (anti)heroines and danger is an aphrodisiac in Persephone Black’s thrilling Sapphic Mafia romance novels.

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