Hello Readers!

I just wanted to share some exciting updates with you. Remember His Winter Fox, the book Fel and I released back in December?

Well, we're back with a fresh addition to our collection and a brand-new series! Enchanted by You marks the beginning of our new Mage Match series.

If you haven't already, feel free to check it out and pre-order your copy here.

Mage Match is a new MM paranormal romance series and is a spin-off of the Fox Haven series. Enchanted by You features a prodigal mage, Oliver McGowan, and his foxy mate, James Mullins.

Enchanted by You will be released on February 29, 2024.

As the eldest son of the eldest son of the McGowans, Ollie's mage family expects great things from him. However, all he's turned out to be is a massive disappointment. Bringing a shifter to a family gathering isn’t winning him any brownie points… even if said shifter is as handsome as a fox. Ollie has had a thing for James Mullins for as long as he can remember. James insists they're better off as friends, but… what if that's about to change?

Here's a little sneak preview of the first chapter~

Chapter One

JAMES

I woke up that morning on the hard floor. Grumbling to myself, I struggled to my feet. After a few stretches, I paused. A strange emptiness hung in the air.

The house was quiet, and the absence of any sound and movement felt unsettling. Usually, by this time, I would be able to pick up the smell of Cliff’s cooking and Shane’s animated chatter about some trivial matter. But today, there was nothing, only radio silence.

I left my room. The master bedroom used to belong to our dad, but after he died, it went to me. I passed by Shane and Cliff’s old rooms, feeling a little sentimental. Our dad left us when we were teenagers and as the oldest, it had fallen to me to raise my brothers, Shane and Cliff.

I was adamant about the three of us staying together. The thought of being split up into different foster homes didn’t sit well with me. I made my way downstairs. I half expected to see Shane draped on the sofa, channel surfing or hearing Cliff complain about me leaving my dirty clothes everywhere again.

The thought of getting a pet crossed my mind. Maybe a dog, but then reality kicked in. After spending most of my life looking after my brothers, was I ready to take on more responsibility? 

I already had my BBQ business to run and a family to look after—adding a pet to the mix might be pushing it. I stood in the middle of the kitchen, unsure of what to do with myself. Couldn’t I enjoy a moment of peace alone? 

After some debating, I made myself a cup of coffee and poured myself a bowl of expired cereal. A quick check of my empty kitchen cabinets showed me that, apart from the ingredients needed for my BBQ business, I didn’t have much personal stock, save for a lone can of tuna. 

That was also expired. Cliff was usually in charge of the groceries.

“Stop it,” I muttered to myself. 

How often had I complained to my brothers about wanting some peace and quiet in my own home? Now that Cliff had moved in with his mate, Declan, who was coincidentally also my best friend, and Shane had rented his own place in town… I finally got what I wanted. 

Fox shifters weren’t solitary by nature. Maybe that explained my mood this morning. The cereal didn’t taste right. It felt like I was eating cardboard, so I decided to dump it in the trash and make something else. 

As I grabbed the eggs from the fridge, I couldn't help but think about how life could change. Maybe I'd check in with Cliff and Shane later, make sure everything was alright. 

But for now, I forced myself to savor that quiet moment, appreciating the solitude while it lasted. And who knew, maybe a pet wasn't such a bad idea after all—something to fill the void when the house was too quiet and mornings felt a little lonelier than usual. Just as I was about to tuck into my burned eggs, the doorbell rang. 

"Thank God," I muttered, hastily pushing my plate aside and making my way to the front door. 

Was I really in such desperate need of company? This new arrangement must have been getting to me more than I thought. I swung the door open, and there stood Declan on the porch, grinning at me. 

Better yet, he had a paper bag full of delicious-smelling pastries cradled in one arm. I couldn't help but smile back. Leave it to Declan to rescue me from a breakfast disaster.

"Hey, James,” he greeted. Declan looked me up and down. “You look grumpier than usual. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”

“More like on the floor,” I grumbled. “Come on in.”

He stepped inside, and the aroma of fresh pastries filled the air, overpowering the lingering scent of my overcooked eggs. I closed the door behind him, and we exchanged a quick, friendly hug.

Even though there had been a momentary rift between us when Declan started dating Cliff, we'd managed to clear up matters between us. 

Now, he was truly a part of the Mullins family. I couldn't hold a grudge against him, not when he and I had known each other since we were kids. Plus, he brought me chocolate croissants and cherry pastries.

"What brings you here?" I asked, eyeing the bag in his hands.

“Honestly? Cliff thought you might have trouble adjusting to being alone in the house. I agreed with him and figured I’d just drop by,” Declan answered.

I scoffed. “Cliff worries too much. As you can see, I’m doing perfectly fine by my lonesome.”

Declan eyed the scattered clothes in the living room. “You’ve always been such a slob. Cliff said so. You should clean up a little.”

“Clean up for who?” I asked.

“In case you bring someone home,” he pointed out.

We retreated to the kitchen. I dumped my eggs in the trash and got Declan a cup of coffee. He winced after taking one sip.

“Cliff makes better coffee,” Declan pointed out.

“Yeah, well, you have to settle for mine for now. Hand me a chocolate croissant,” I said.

Declan handed the bag over. I bit into the soft, flaky pastry and groaned in appreciation.

“Back to our original topic,” Declan said.

“What? Oh, bringing someone home? I’m thinking of getting a dog,” I pointed out.

“A dog? Aren’t you more of a cat person?”

“Cats can be picky when it comes to fox shifters,” I said.

“James,” Declan said with a sigh. “A pet isn’t a replacement for what you really need.”

What I really need? Oh, here we go again. Declan and Cliff figured that since things worked out for them, it was my turn to find my mate. Mate. That word scared me senseless. 

Sure, I’ve dated here and there, but committing myself to just one person my entire life seemed daunting. Shifters also mated for life. 

What if I or fate made a mistake somewhere, and I couldn’t get out of a hole I dug myself? But then again, what if I was with someone I clicked with? 

Then I started picturing a certain dark-haired mage and his gorgeous smile. Ollie had an amazing smile.We’re better off friends, I reminded myself.

“…I think it wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun tonight. Reginald is certainly up for it,“ Declan was saying.

“Back up a second,” I interrupted. “Who is Reginald? Reggie?”

“No, he prefers to be called Reginald,” Declan said. He frowned. “He’s the newest member of your pack. Owen recruited two new members, Reginald and Levi. Haven’t you heard?”

“I didn’t exactly have much time to check in with the pack during the holidays,” I explained. 

Shane had helped me get the word out about my BBQ business during the winter using social media, which I had no clue how to use. 

Plenty of locals and even tourists had placed hundreds of orders. I had to rope both my brothers, Declan, and a few pack mates to help meet the demand. Now that it was downtime, I wondered if it was the chaos I missed. 

Maybe all I needed was to be busy, so my mind wouldn’t wander aimlessly. My inner fox growled. Even he could recognize I was being slightly sad and pathetic.

“So what do you think?” Declan asked me.

“What?” I asked, distracted.

“You and Reginald going on a date tonight?” Declan repeated. “Or do you have other plans?”

Actually, I planned on asking Declan to accompany me to the animal shelter once the workday was over. If I couldn’t get a hold of Declan, I figured I could ask Cliff or Shane. 

Then again, Cliff and Declan were in their honeymoon phase, and Shane was… Shane. He always did whatever he pleased and never lacked for friends. 

Sometimes, I envied his social life and how easy it was for him to meet new people. Of course, I’d never tell Shane that.

“Fine,” I said, deciding to take the plunge into the uncertain waters of dating. “Set it up. I’m excited to meet Reggie.”

“Great,” Declan said, beaming at me.

* * *

“Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I would like moving to the boondocks. Back in the city, everything was open all the time, you know?” Reggie, pardon me, Reginald Grass was saying. 

I took a sip of my beer and found it empty. No surprise there. All I’d done so far for the past hour was listen to Reginald. He seemed to like hearing the sound of his own voice.

As I looked for a nearby waiter, my gaze found a lone figure sitting at a corner table. Ollie looked miserable. He sat slumped in his chair, staring at a basket of wings and fries. He already had a beer, it seemed. 

Even wearing a paper bib and with a splash of sauce on his left cheek, Ollie looked… amazing, even dressed in a simple dark blue sweater and jeans. Some of his dark-brown curls had fallen across his face without him noticing, and I wished I was sitting right next to him so I could push them aside. 

That way, I’d see his eyes. Ollie had amazing eyes. They were the lightest shade of green, like the new leaves in the early days of spring. 

I also liked the curve of his brow and the generous shape of his mouth. How often had I imagined kissing those lips while we had a conversation?

Ollie owned a tacky souvenir shop, but every paranormal resident knew that was just a front. Ollie ran Fox Haven’s only magic shop. It was thanks to his magical know-how that Declan and Cliff were alive today. 

I knew only a few things about Ollie, tidbits he let slip during the years we’d known each other. I knew Ollie was estranged from his mage family and he didn’t seem to care about them that much. Most mages were arrogant and thought they were better than most supernaturals but Ollie wasn’t like that. 

He was warm and thoughtful. Those inquisitive green eyes could see right through a person. Sometimes, I wondered what he saw when he looked at me. My heart did a little flop as I watched him pick at one of his wings. 

Then he looked across the crowded bar, and for a moment, our gazes met. I lifted my hand, and he gave me one of those small, rare smiles that never failed to kick-start my heart.

Ollie waved back, saw Reginald, then returned his attention to his wings. How I envied those wings in that moment. I had the sudden urge to excuse myself from my own table and come over. Reginald probably wouldn’t even realize I was gone. 

Maybe I could tell him I needed to use the men’s room. Reginald gave my arm an impatient tap. “Are you listening, James? I mean, if you weren’t so hot, I would’ve made an excuse to leave fifteen minutes ago.”

“So what, you were only attracted to my looks?” I asked.

“Of course not, silly. Pay attention,” Reginald snapped.

Oh boy. I told myself I would sit through one date for Declan and Cliff’s sakes, but I suspected there wouldn’t be a date number two. 

What was Owen, my lead alpha, thinking, allowing Reginald in the pack? It was obvious Reginald didn’t like small-town living. Maybe he was a stray. Owen had a soft spot for strays who were kicked out of their packs for some other reason or another.

“I’m bored,” Reginald said.

I looked over at Ollie’s table again, but he was already gone. I sighed. Opportunity lost. My inner fox grew irritated. What was I doing, going on blind dates when who I clearly wanted was just close by? 

It wasn’t like I hadn’t debated long and hard about asking Ollie out. In the end, I always decided it was better we stayed as friends because I treasured what we had. Because, what if we dated and things didn’t work out? 

I’d lose his precious friendship in the process, but then again, if I didn’t seize this opportunity, I might also regret it in the future. I wasn’t getting any younger, and what if some other paranormal or human caught Ollie’s attention?

“I heard there’s a magic store in town. Take me there; I want to see it,” Reginald was saying.

“Sure,” I said absentmindedly, fishing out a couple of bills from my wallet to pay for our meal. 

My thoughts were centered only on one person: Ollie. I would be able to see and speak to him after all. Then maybe tonight wouldn't be such a loss.

Pre-order now on Amazon

Enchanted by You will be released on February 29, 2024. Fel and I can't wait for you to read it!

Have a happy weekend!~

Yours sincerely,

Kara