Sometimes the moments that change our lives arrive during the most uncertain times.

STRINGS by Jan Merritt brings together two people standing at very different crossroads. One is determined to rebuild her career and protect her future, while the other finds himself unexpectedly intrigued by a woman who refuses to be easily drawn into his world. When their paths cross during a time of global upheaval, what begins as curiosity slowly becomes something harder to ignore.

Blending contemporary romance, emotional drama, and elements of women’s fiction, this story explores ambition, independence, and the complicated pull of connection. Set against contrasting backdrops—from the quiet beauty of the Minnesota wilderness to the challenges of isolation during uncertain times—it’s a story about the choices we make when life shifts in unexpected ways.

Contemporary Romance, Romantic Drama, Women’s Fiction

Date Published: 11-21-2025

A pandemic is spreading across the globe. A national lockdown looms in the United States. A Southern journalist sees a chance to protect her health and jumpstart her career by escaping north to a Minnesota wilderness. Feisty and wary of entanglement, she piques the interest of a bored Native American rock star on his way home. 

Robby Song’s career may be on hold, but Grace Wheeler is on a mission to build hers. To Robby, she’s an intriguing challenge. To Grace, he’s a distraction she’s not ready to handle. But the brutal Northwoods winter is coming. Grace flees back south . . . to soul-searching isolation and a puzzling middle-of-the-night call.

Jan lives on the coast of South Carolina with strong ties to northern Minnesota. Growing up was filled with rich but conflicting narratives. Her dad told stories about his pioneering Minnesota family, egalitarian values, and the importance of self-reliance. They made annual trips to family cabins on a lake north of Duluth. But in her friends’ homes back in Charleston, she was immersed in plantation lore, tales of the Confederacy, and exclusive traditions of a social set that she was not born into. She is married to a musician who is also a mental health therapist. They have three children.

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Some places never really let you go—no matter how far you run.

In Cat Came Back, a return to a quiet mountain town stirs up more than old memories. Secrets linger in the shadows, danger prowls the wilderness, and unfinished feelings refuse to stay buried. When the past collides with the present, one woman discovers that coming home might be the most dangerous—and most necessary—choice she could make.

Blending second-chance romance with paranormal suspense, Anne Kane delivers a story where instincts run wild, loyalties are tested, and the line between hunter and hunted can shift in an instant. If you enjoy shifter stories with a touch of mystery and a rekindled connection that refuses to fade, this one promises plenty of tension along the way.

2nd Chance Romance, Paranormal Suspense

Date Published: March 13, 2026

Cat’s come back to town. Jacob plans to keep her here.

When Catherine’s aunt dies in a suspicious accident, she comes back to her hometown to settle the estate. She expects it to be an easy job, but she doesn’t count on being chased by a pack of wild wolves, and an unknown enemy who sprays graffiti on the house and throws bricks through her windows. When the local police force proves less than helpful, it’s up to Cat to find out what’s going on with the help of her all too human lover, Jacob. 

Known as the Mad Trapper, Jacob has been in love with Cat since high school. Now that she’s back in town he intends to show her that a human-shifter relationship can be just what a were-cat needs to keep her out of trouble.

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Cat could hear them behind her, howling in triumph as she streaked across the hard-crusted snow in the direction of town. Her breath was labored, coming in ragged gasps. There was only one place she could think of where she'd be safe, where the pack would be too afraid to follow her. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure she'd be any safer there than she was with the pack breathing down her neck.

She'd been away from Hunter's Canyon, her hometown in the frozen heights of the Rocky Mountain wilderness, for far too long. When she was barely more than a kitten halfway through high school, she'd migrated to the southern states where the temperatures were warm and life was easy. She'd forgotten how deadly the wolf packs could be when they found a bobcat wandering in the bush, alone. She prayed to any deity who'd listen that her latest mistake wouldn't prove to be fatal.

Up ahead, the lights of town twinkled invitingly. She could hear the music of the Dance Hall beckoning her with its cheerful lilt, but she veered away from it toward a log cabin at the closer edge of town. She squelched the arrow of fear that lanced through her, threatening to freeze her in her tracks.

The Mad Trapper lived in that cabin. They didn't call him Mad for nothing. The man defied all social norms, doing what he wanted when he wanted and be damned to all the gossips in town who thought he should behave himself. He'd been a gangly teenager the last time Cat had seen him, but she still remembered the surprising strength in his hands when he'd wrenched open the jaws of the trap. She'd been careless that day too, and back then the iron leg hold traps had been in common use. He'd rescued her from sure death, but then kept her locked in one of those damn dog carriers for days while he smeared smelly goop on the wound. She wasn't sure what was in the goop -- but it hurt like the devil.

In retrospect he'd probably saved her leg, but at the time she was sure he'd hurt her on purpose. The first time he'd left the door of the carrier unlatched, she'd escaped and fled out an open window. Soon after, her family had moved south and she'd barely given the awkward teen another thought. Now here she was heading for his doorstep, hoping he would save her. Again. Some things never change.

He'd expanded the cabin since she'd been away. The rickety front porch she remembered had been replaced with a deck that ran the full length of the house and wrapped around the side. Streaking up the wooden stairs, she plastered herself against the front door and turned to face her attackers.

For as long as she could remember, there had been a werewolf pack in town and at first, she had assumed it was them. She'd gone to grade school with Jack, the alpha. While he wasn't what she'd call a social butterfly, he was a nice enough guy for a werewolf. He'd have no compunctions about letting his pack chase her for a little fun and excitement, but he'd draw the line at actually hurting her.

When one of the mutts had managed to get close enough to rake his fangs down her hindquarters, she'd realized she was in trouble. These were real wolves, with a real desire to maim and kill. They were bigger than she was, and could probably outlast her in a flat out run. She just hoped their instinct for self-preservation would keep them away from the Mad Trapper's cabin.

So far, so good. The entire pack came to a halt a good ten feet from the deck, milling around on the front lawn in a seething pile of fur. The mutt who'd gotten his fangs on her seemed to be the ringleader, growling softly and trying in vain to urge the others forward. The rest of the pack didn't seem to be inclined to take his advice. A smaller bitch, with gray streaking her muzzle, snapped at him in annoyance when he tried to herd her forward. The mutt snarled softly and turned toward the deck. He made a quick rush that halted just shy of the stairway, his teeth glinting sharply in the bright light of the full moon.

Yeah, a full moon. She'd been dumb enough to decide to go for a run all by her lonesome on the night of a full moon. She arched her back, fluffing her fur up to make herself look larger than she really was while she hissed and spat at the wolf. If he decided to attack alone, she just might stand a chance of fighting him off. At least she hoped she did. Bobcats were no slouches in a fight. So long as his buddies didn't rush in to back him up, she could handle a wolf one on one.

Her side ached, and she could feel the muscles starting to stiffen. Great. It would probably scar too. She turned her head to swipe her tongue at the dripping blood. The wound was worse than she'd thought.

One of the pack, an older male, sat on his haunches and lifted his muzzle toward the moon. He began to howl, the sound wild and plaintive. One by one, the rest of the pack joined in.

Her attacker seemed torn, glancing between his intended prey and his brethren singing to the moon. If she could have, she would have crossed her fingers and wished for him to go back to his pack. Her head started to throb in time to the pain in her side, and she had to concentrate to stay on her feet. Shit! How much blood had she lost?

The rest of the wolves lost interest in her, turning their attention to the pack howl fest. Unfortunately, her attacker was too stubborn to give up just yet. Turning back to face her, he lifted his lips in a silent snarl and began to edge forward, slinking up the stairs.

"Well now. What do we have here?" The soft glow of firelight spilled out onto the deck as the door to the cabin swung open. "Ahh. So the cat really did come back. I heard you were back in town. Grown into a real nice kitty, I see. You might as well come in and let me put some salve on that scrape of yours."

Cat whirled to stare at the trapper in amazement. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the wolf pack melt silently into the night, the big mutt that had attacked her going with them. Her gamble had paid off. So far.

meet the author

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

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Some historical novels explore events we know from textbooks. Others bring us into the emotional reality of living through them. Goodbye Demons falls into the latter, weaving a deeply personal story into one of the most tense political crises of the late twentieth century.

This novel looks beyond headlines and history to examine the human side of global conflict—the uncertainty, resilience, and emotional strain experienced by those caught in extraordinary circumstances. Through the experiences of one couple, the story explores how love, distance, and trauma shape lives long after the world stops watching.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction rooted in real events, character-driven drama, and stories about resilience in the face of crisis may find this one especially compelling.

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 04-24-2026

Publisher: Salty Books Publishing

She is assigned to Tunis where she falls in love with U.S. diplomat James Whitcomb. At the conclusion of their tours of duty, they marry. Within weeks of the wedding, he is taken captive in the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979-81. 

James, held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, endures the same demons that afflicted the real life hostages during the actual crisis 45 years ago. 

Angie, biting her nails at home, endures her own demons. How can she support him? Should she join efforts to force the president into negotiating a release? Or even a rescue? 

When the ordeal finally ends fourteen months later, the couple faces a new set of demons. Rebuilding their life together as they each recuperate from their own PTSDs.

This was the chance of a lifetime, and Angie swore she wouldn’t blow it. She did elaborate stretching exercises and weight training. She followed a dietician’s meal plan and skated five days a week under the guidance of her coach. Angie concocted a brilliant plan to capture the Gold at Nationals and guarantee her a slot on the Olympic team.

Her coach objected. “No woman has ever done a triple axel, and you’re not ready.”

“I did it in practice. You saw me.”

“You fell. A perfect double axel that you’re capable of doing trumps a triple axel that you screw up.”

Angie was determined to do the triple without falling. She doubled down on her training regime. Bruising falls came each day. It wasn’t until a week before the competitions that she completed a triple. She grinned triumphantly at her surprised coach. Then on the next try she took a nasty fall that left her limping when she rose from the ice. Her coach sped over to her. After making sure Angie had broken no bones, she again warned her to stop trying the triple axel.

“You’re not ready. It’s a riverboat gamble.”

“I have to take the gamble when I’ve got the chance.”

“You’ll have a chance next year. You’ll be stronger and more experienced. That’ll be the time to do it.”

“In the meantime, some other girl might do it first, and nobody will ever hear about me. Even if I do one the next day. Can you tell me who was the second woman to fly across the Atlantic?”

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Some stories capture the grit and tension of the Old West in a way that feels lived-in rather than legendary. Call in the Dogs brings readers into a rugged frontier world where loyalty, reputation, and survival often ride side by side.

At the heart of the story is a man trying to build something lasting in a place where peace is rarely guaranteed. But in the West, the past has a way of catching up—and sometimes the quiet life you’re building becomes the very thing you must defend. With strong community ties, looming danger, and the promise of an inevitable showdown, this western blends frontier life with the tension of an approaching reckoning.

If you enjoy character-driven westerns, frontier justice, and stories rooted in resilience and friendship, this one might be worth adding to your reading list.

Western/Cowboy,  Cherokee, Outlaw

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Write the West Press an imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Springfield, Missouri

 

 

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Levi Kuratowski, better known as “Little Kansas,” only thinks his days of carrying a gun are over. With a trading license approved by the Cherokee Nation he is determined to build a trading post on the banks of Spring Creek. Soon however he must set his hammer aside and take up his colt revolver. Upon receiving word that the outlaw Bill Kirby has escaped custody he prepares to face his old adversary.

Levi’s friend, Cherokee rancher Turon Turtle vows to offer aid and his rifle. Turon’s strong willed sister, Ruth, has a different vow in mind for Levi. Levi soon finds the determined Ruth as challenging as the inevitable showdown that has yet to come.

For the first time since leaving Europe three years earlier his has a sense of home. He finds customers in the neighboring Cherokee and travelers. More importantly he finds friends. Unknown to Levi is the whereabouts of the outlaw Kirby. Can Levi rely on his new friends and community? Will Levi be able to hold on to what he has built and face the man who thinks nothing except for the destruction of Levi and all he holds dear?

 

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Queenie is out in front,” Turon Turtle said, reaching over to put a stick on the fire.

“Stump is close behind,” Ounce Pathkiller grunted.

The two Cherokee had been speaking mostly in English for the benefit of the third man, Levi. Known to most in the area as Little Kansas. A nickname he picked up while cowboying out West where he had met the Cherokee Turon Turtle.

Born and raised in a poor family in Poland, fox hunting was foreign to Levi Kuratowski. Only the rich had hounds. Here he sat with two Cherokee, a hemisphere away from home.

“How can you tell which dog is in the lead?” Levi asked while staring at the night sky.

“Each dog sounds different. Has its own voice,. as people do,” Ounce replied.

“Yeah, Queenie has a sharp tone. She’s the boss. Now, Ounce’s dog Stump has a deeper bark, as if he’s in a well. Also, he sounds as though he’s way behind Queenie,” Turon added while grinning and giving Ounce a sidelong glance.

Ounce spoke in Cherokee, too quick for Levi to understand the words, but he understood the gesture.

 “Stump catch that old fox, you’ll see,” Ounce added.

“Better be an old fox if Stump is going to catch it.” Turon pulled a tobacco pouch from a coat pocket and unrolled a small paper between his fingers.

Ounce once again grunted.

“I heard you priced Stump to Ned Foreman for fifty dollars,” Turon said, carefully dumping tobacco on the paper then rolling a cigarette.

“Yeah,” Ounce said while accepting the tobacco pouch and papers from Turon.

Reaching for a burning stick to light his cigarette, Turon asked, “What makes him worth fifty dollars?”

 “I traded two twenty-five-dollar fighting roosters for him.” Ounce built his own cigarette.

 

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 Born and raised on the Ozark Plateau. Charlie Amos grew up in the footsteps of outlaws, cowboys, and woodsmen. He currently lives in Oklahoma with his wife, children, and dog Banjo. When he is not tending cattle and kids he is reading and writing about the American West. Years of working in agriculture, forestry, trucking, and teaching school has laid the foundation of telling our American story through relatable characters. Writing westerns for westerners, and everyone else. 

 

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There’s something endlessly compelling about alternate history — especially when it asks what if the real turning point of war wasn’t steel or strategy… but magic?

Ink Magic: Legacy of the Flower blends the grit of World War I with a fantastical twist that feels both cinematic and dangerous. This is the kind of story where loyalty is tested, power comes at a cost, and the line between weapon and wielder blurs in unforgettable ways. If you love historical settings layered with high-stakes magic, covert missions, and personal vendettas that burn just as fiercely as global conflict, this one will be right up your alley.

With living tattoos, rival nations battling for dominance, and a desperate race to control a force that could reshape the world, this story promises action, tension, and a pulse of revenge running just beneath the surface.

Here’s the full description from the publisher:

Historical Fantasy

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Sword and Thistle LLC

 

 

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In World War 1, it’s not the tanks or soldiers that will determine the victors, it’s the magical tattoo ink.

The Mages who can bear that ink have special weapon and beast tattoos that can come to life.

Jack is an infamous Mage, called into a covert mission to rescue a missing scientist. If he can do this, he will ensure the balance of power with the magical ink distribution is not stolen by other countries who look to gain the upper hand during the war.

As he searches for the renowned Nikola Tesla, Jack assembles a team of Mages and soldiers as they scramble against time and powerful Russian enemies, who also have their own magical tattoos. Their enemies will use those powers not only to win the war but take over the city where all magical ink is created and distributed, thus ensuring global domination.

But Jack has a personal vendetta against one of those enemies, payback for the death of his father and other loved ones. If Jack can use his ink magic and overcome the insurmountable odds to succeed, he just might keep the ink safe, maintain the balance of power, and defeat the men who have plagued his family for decades.

This action-packed alternate history novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats! If you love the Pale Rider Second Chance series by Michael Roberts, you will love his new Ink Magic series!

 

about the author

 

 Michael Roberts is a Police Officer in Southern California. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years. This is his first American Historical fiction book, and he drew on much of his previous military experience to write it.

His most recent series, Ink Magic, was just accepted by Spiteful Books.

He lives in California with his family of seven. 

 

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Fall Back in to Time

 

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There’s something timeless about a brand-new pair of boots—especially when you’re a kid who can already picture the adventures waiting in them.

Just Look at Those Boots captures that wide-eyed excitement of childhood, where imagination runs as fast as a horse across an open field… and sometimes gets you into a little trouble along the way. Rooted in farm life and inspired by real family history, this story blends gentle lessons with the kind of everyday adventure that feels both nostalgic and wonderfully relatable.

Perfect for young readers who love animals, wide-open spaces, and stories that celebrate responsibility, growing up, and a touch of cowboy spirit, this second installment in the series continues to honor life on a 1930s Oklahoma farm with heart and authenticity.

 

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

A.J. is so excited about his new cowboy boots. He wears them on the first day of the school year. Mom said it was for only one day and then back to his regular boots or sneakers. During recess, A.J. plays in an exciting game of kickball. His boots get very messy during the game.

When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride because she’s waited all day for him.

On the ride, A.J. heads to the shallow pond out in one field. While A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond and decides to get there fast. A.J. loses control of Lady Star and finds himself thrown into the pond. Daydreaming on the ride means A.J. has additional chores when he returns to the barn.

In this second book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stores of the American West, as well as history, Just Look At Those Boots, is a must-read.

about the author

Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has written multiple award-winning fiction picture books such as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus, Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best Reading Buddy. She also has written two non-fiction award-winning picture books, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet? and A Visit Through the Wetlands. These two were illustrated with her photography. Sherry’s newest picture book, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus e-newsletter June 2025 as Indie Pick and received a Get It: Recommend review.

As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.

Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.

Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.

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