what makes you happy?

May 04, 2025 4:58 pm

May News

Contents

Introduction, updates, and newsletter giveaway
Sales, freebies, and/or new releases
Giveaways and promotions
Book recommendations
Closing remarks
My books

Hi ,

Last month's giveaway winner is Melonie at mel ... ll at nc.rr dot com. If this is you, you should have received your gift card by now.

Usually at this time of year, I like to ask everyone which book they want for free for my birthday next month. However, I decided to change things up a bit this year. Instead of only one free book, I'm going give you the chance to read everything but Once upon a Betrothal for free. If you are not on Ream, you will need to create a free account. Then you can join my Digital Friend tier with the code HOBBITBIRTHDAY to get a free 3 month subscription. This code will work as early as today and is valid through June 30th. It will give you access to all of my non-KU backlist. The Lost Assassin, which is currently in KU, will be free to buy on June 21st only. Maybe I'm going a bit overboard, but I've always loved the idea of a hobbit birthday and I needed to do something to cheer myself up.

Once upon a Betrothal isn't quite finished yet. To be honest, this newsletter is the extent of the work I've accomplished in a little more than a week. I've been struggling because I found out the hard way that there are laws limiting the number of fur babies allowed and apparently, I have one too many. I have no idea what to do, but there have been a lot of tears in my household lately as we're scrambling to try to find a good home for one of our pets before the deadline near the end of this month.

Given those circumstances, I know I'm late in writing and sending this newsletter. Because I was really close to finished with revisions on Once upon a Betrothal and I feel like I need a push to get me back on track, I've put up a preorder listing. I've set it for my birthday, June 21st, which should give me enough time to finish without problems, but not so much time that I can let myself keep dragging my feet. It might take a couple days before it shows up for preorder on Amazon.

The only other thing I have to say is that I'm calling it quits on the weekly email experiment. I know it's considered best practices, but to be honest, it's wearing me out to try to keep up with it and I'm not seeing enough increased engagement to make it worth the effort. I'd rather put more time into my books and back down on the time it takes to send out emails. For those of you who've been on my list and didn't opt into the weekly emails, you never saw more than the one or two a month. I'm going to backtrack and merge my old and new lists and I'm going for a guaranteed first Thursday of the month with a likely third Thursday email for everyone.

I have gotten seriously behind on checking my emails, but with backing off on how often I'm sending these newsletters, I plan to get caught up in the next month. So if you sent me something and I haven't responded, I'm sorry for the delay, but I will be getting back to you eventually.

For this month's giveaway, tell me something that makes you happy.

Sales, Freebies, and/or New Releases

Once upon a Betrothal will be at the preorder price of $2.99 until it releases on June 21st. But it might take a couple days before it shows up on Amazon.

The Lost Assassin will be FREE on June 21st.

Read all of my non-KU backlist for FREE for 3 months by signing up for my Digital Friend tier on Ream with the code HOBBITBIRTHDAY.

This last bit isn't for one of my books, but Tainted Beauty, which I've included in the book recommendations is a new book that I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of and I couldn't put it down!

Giveaways and Promotions

Book Recommendations

Tainted Beauty by Alesha Adamson

A dragon’s curse, a deadly touch, a maiden tainted by beauty… can they break the curse—or will it consume them?

Aurelius has lost everything. Desperate to regain his worth, he accepts a gift from a dragon, but it comes at a terrible price. Now, the beast within him is out of his control—and it’s too late to undo the damage he’s caused.

Then he meets her.

The most enchanting maiden he’s ever seen.

Melora is trapped in a life she never wanted, sold off to the highest bidder to pay her father’s debts. But, when his greed takes things too far, she sacrifices herself to save her sister from a monstrous dragon.

Swept away to the dragon’s gilded domain, Melora finds Aurelius. He is arrogant, proud, and infuriatingly persistent—but there’s a side to him that calls to her, that makes her feel valued in a way she’s never known before.

Captive in this glittering world, Melora is surrounded by secrets that threaten to destroy them. Why won’t he touch her? What lies behind the forbidden door?

As the days pass, their time is running out. Will they break the curse before it’s too late, or will the glint of gold taint everything?

Tainted Beauty is a reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast” intertwined with “King Midas.” Fly away with a dragon shifter in this thrilling and swoony fairytale romance, part of the All That Glitters series—a collection of twelve books brimming with Tales of Treasure and True Love. Each book is written by a different author and can be enjoyed in any order, so pick a new favorite and discover that not all that glitters is gold.

Before the Mermaid's Tale by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple

All I wanted was to live a simple life as a sea sorceress and find my future with Nerio under the sea.

Until he was tasked by Neptune's wife Atheana for an absurd task that cost us everything.

Now Neptune expects me to get over my loss, rejoin them at the palace, and act as if everything is fine.

It's not fine.

And it never will be again. And I have vowed never to use my magic to help him or his family again.

And if I start to create my own collection of subjects that bow down to me?

Well, the more the better. My power as the sea witch will only continue to grow.

And one day, Neptune and his family with know the depths of my vengeance.

Discover this Little Mermaid, villain-origin dark fairy tale retelling today!

Something different by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple. Meet the villains in your favorite fairy tales! A romantasy fairy tale retelling series full of love, a little magic, a strong sense of history, and powerful characters who we fall in love with, only to hate later on.