Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Tour Kick Off: The Well-Tempered Violinist by Barbara T. Carlton #nowontour #giveaway #fiction #historical #rabtbooktours






Book 1 of The Gift

 

Historical Fiction

Date to be Published: November 5, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


Marthe Adler dreams of making history as a great violinist. But in 1905 Germany, tradition and deep-seated prejudice against women musicians stand in her way. To make matters worse, her beloved father’s sudden death shatters her family’s comfortable life, pushing them to the edge of poverty.

But the violin Marthe’s father left her is a constant reminder of the profound bond between them, and it gives her the strength to begin healing. When the Köln Conservatory offers her an unexpected scholarship, she seizes her chance to reach for excellence.

Under the rigorous tutelage of Professorin Wolff, and subjected to predatory harassment by a fellow student determined to destroy both her self-worth and her chances of success, Marthe quickly learns she will need more than motivation and talent to rise to the top.

Filled with heart, wit, and music, The Well-Tempered Violinist is an enduring coming-of-age tale about an artist striving for greatness against enormous odds.

 


About the Author


Retired architect Barbara Thornburgh Carlton is an author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Though not a musician, she remains music-adjacent as a volunteer for the San Diego Opera and the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington. The mother of two grown children who are remarkably considerate about keeping in touch, she lives in San Diego, California, with her photographer husband, Barry.

The Well-Tempered Violinist, Book 1 of The Gift series, is her first novel.

 

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Instagram: @btcarlton_writer 


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October 22 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

October 23 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

October 24 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

October 27 - Lisa's Reading - Excerpt

October 28 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

October 29 - Sarandipity's - Guest Post

October 30 - Novel News Network- Review

October 31 - The Avid Reader - Interview

November 3 - Always Reading - Excerpt

November 4 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

November 5 - A Life Through Books - Interview

November 6 - Book Reviews by Virginia Lee - Spotlight

November 7 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

November 10 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

November 11 - Texas Book Nook - Review

November 12 - Iron Canuck Reviews - Excerpt

November 13 - On a Reading Bender - Review

November 14 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

November 17 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

November 18 - The Indie Express - Review

November 19 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

November 20 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

November 21 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up





 

RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: Never Lost Tour by Aaron C. Anderson #nowontour #giveaway #fiction #rabtbooktours




 


General Fiction

Date Published: October 23rd, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing



Zane Carter and his sons, eleven-year-old Ty and thirteen-year-old Joseph, venture one hundred miles into the Idaho wilderness with only a knife and the knowledge of their Nez Perce ancestors. Danger awaits at every deadfall and lurks in every snowy shadow as the boys hunt, fish, make weapons, and build shelter, learning to survive, taking only what they need from the land, and leaving no trace.

During their eighteen-day journey, Zane’s determination to fulfill a promise to his grandfather, an Indigenous warrior who exemplified the tenets of a wise and spiritual existence, is thwarted by a fatal encounter that transports Zane into an ancient realm as he straddles the thin line between life and death.

He wonders what has become of his boys. Have they learned enough patience, resourcefulness, and courage to complete this rite of passage? Will they make it out of the wildlands alive? Or will the unforgiving forces of the natural world take them too far from home to ever return?

 


About the Author


After high school, Aaron Anderson set out to see the world, embarking on adventures through North America, Europe, and North Africa. He enjoyed traveling as a bicyclist, motorcyclist, train passenger, and even as a hitchhiker, reveling in the excitement of the unknown.

At the age of twenty-two, Aaron returned to the US and worked on oil rigs in Wyoming. He later became a carpenter and eventually a real estate appraiser. However, his true passions have always been writing, developing powerful friendships, and exploring new country.

During the 1980s he and his two sons hunted, hiked, and camped throughout the western states. Here, his love for the natural world and respect for Indigenous people prompted him to write his second novel, Never Lost.

 

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October 23 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

October 24 - What Is That Book About - Excerpt

October 27 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

October 28 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

October 29 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

October 30 - On a Reading Bender - Review

October 31 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

November 1 - Always Reading - Interview

November 4 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

November 5 - Texas Book Nook - Review

November 6 - The Avid Reader - Interview

November 7 - Book Reviews by Virginia Lee - Spotlight

November 11 - Novel News Network- Review

November 12 - Wine Cellar Library - Spotlight

November 13 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

November 14 - Our Town Book Reviews - Spotlight

November 17 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

November 18 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

November 19 - A Life Through Books - Interview

November 20 - The Indie Express - Review

November 21 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up





RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

New Release Blitz: Holiday on the Rocks by Mary Lee Painter #newrelease #newbooks #romance #comedy #romcom #Rabtbooktours

 


Romcom

Date Published: October 20, 2025



Seven years ago a couple fell headfirst into love and ran off to exchange vows in a fit of passion, only to have their dreams implode before the sun set on their wedding day. Now, as fate would have it, they find themselves trapped together for a friend’s destination holiday wedding with Allie determined to never see him again while Levi plans to win back the one he let slip away.

Because of a storm they find themselves alone at the vacation house with the unresolved tension shining through like a diamond. As the snow falls outside, they strike a deal—an unorthodox “closure plan” to finally put their past to rest. Bound by the twenty-four-hour understanding that they will spend one day together and then say goodbye forever.

With the glow of holiday lights surrounding them, Levi’s made it his mission to win back the one he let slip away.


About the Author

 

 Mary Lee Painter is the romcom author of The Other Fork in the Road (2024), Wild in Minnesota (2025), and her latest release, Holiday on the Rocks, has an October 20, 2025 publish date by Satin Romance. She has her first young adult romcom entitled Worst Idea Ever which will be published in March 2026 by Fire and Ice, and an adult romcom entitled Ding Dong, I'm Home to be released in July 2026 by Satin Romance. Mary Lee resides in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Preorder Blitz: Bunny's Special Treat by Wanda Violet O. #preorder #comingsoon #bdsm #erotica #rabtbooktours @changelingpress

 


BDSM Erotica, Contemporary, Polyamorous

Date Published: October 31, 2025



Warning: This is a Razor’s Edge Daddy Dom BDSM Erotica short story. Expect limited plot and character development, and lots of heat. If you’re looking for a lengthy plot driven erotic romance, this is not it!

 

His Bunny. His rules. One night of denial becomes a lifetime of surrender.


I never dreamed being Max’s Bunny would feel like this. Owned, protected, and utterly consumed by his desire shouldn’t be the enticement, but pleasing Max, submitting to him, fulfills something inside me I didn’t know I was missing. Every touch, every command, every whispered promise reminds me I belong to him. But belonging comes with its own exquisite torment.

Daddy Jacob’s masquerade promises a night of temptation and denial, where every glance burns hotter and every stolen touch leaves me trembling on the edge. I ache for release, but Max’s rules are absolute: I come only when he allows it. And tonight, he intends to push me further than I’ve ever gone before.

Surrounded by power, lust, and dangerous devotion, I have only one truth to hold on to. I’m Max’s Bunny. Always.

 


EXCERPT

 

I traced my finger along the edge of the invitation, the gold filigree catching the late afternoon sunlight that streamed through my bedroom window. Not just any invitation. This was for Daddy Jacob’s Halloween masquerade, an exclusive gathering where only his closest circle received the embossed card resting in my trembling hands. I never would have imagined my life leading me here. A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined being Max’s bunny, his precious pet, his possession. Now, I wasn’t sure I could imagine not being Max’s bunny.

Which brought me back to the invitation. I knew I was expected to be there, but I had assumed I would go as Max’s pet. Seeing my name on my own invitation made me feel a kind of acceptance I hadn’t realized I needed. My life here wasn’t only about Max. I thought I needed Daddy Jacob and Kitten, too. Everyone in this house. We were a family. Unconventional, but all the better because we had to really listen to each other and communicate to have the level of trust we had with each other.

“Are you ready for me to dress you, Bunny?”

Max’s deep voice startled me from my reverie. He leaned against the doorframe, his imposing figure filling the space with quiet authority. He wore dark leather pants slung low on his hips and a crisp white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms roped with muscle. His blue-gray eyes caught mine in the mirror, and his lips curved into that half smile that always made my stomach flip.

“Yes,” I answered, setting the invitation down on my vanity. “Slightly nervous.”

“You’ll be perfect.” He crossed the room to stand behind me, his hands settling on my shoulders. “Let’s get you dressed.”

The costume lay spread across my bed. Max had chosen fuzzy black bunny ears with sparkling gems on the inside. My hair spiraled in waves down my back. I had taken care with my make up, using a light foundation then contouring my face in tones of dark gray to give me an otherworldly appearance.

Dark eye shadow in charcoal smeared over my eyelids and fanned out past the corners, filling in the skin around my eyes to match the jeweled, sequined, black and gold mask. I’d lined my eyes in a gold liner. Max had also laid out a slinky, shimmering black dress trimmed in gold that would swish around me loosely, held on my shoulders by barely there gemmed straps meant to look like diamonds on a thin gold chain. Hell, for all I knew, they might well be diamonds.

“Arms up,” he instructed, and I obeyed without hesitation.

The cool fabric slid over my skin as he smoothed the garment over my curves. He brushed my ribs, my back, the sides of my breasts as he worked the delicate material into place. Each touch, though seemingly casual, sent sparks shooting through me. I knew Max well enough by now to recognize when his movements were deliberately slow, calculated to build anticipation.

“This looks perfect on you,” he murmured, adjusting the straps over my shoulders. His fingers lingered on my collarbone, tracing my skin and making my breath catch. “Turn around, little Bunny.”

I pivoted slowly, allowing him to see how the dress fluttered around my curves in a gentle wave that landed above mid thigh, barely long enough to cover my ass. His eyes darkened as his gaze traveled down my form, then back up to meet mine. “You’ve always been beautiful,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “but tonight you are the most exquisite creature I’ve ever seen.”

I heated with pleasure and I smiled up at Max like he was my hero. And I suppose he was. He and Daddy Jacob.

“You’re trembling,” he observed.

“The invitation is… a lot,” I admitted. “Everything.” The truth was more complicated. His touch, his proximity, the anticipation of what would come later, all combined to leave me dizzy with anticipation. And so fucking horny I thought I might die if I didn’t get relief! I smiled up at him. “But I’m good. Better than even.”

 


About the Author

Welcome to Wanda Violet O.'s world of bedtime fantasy, where you'll find a variety of sexy creatures ready to drink their fill. Wanda specializes in extreme kink. Monsters, BDSM role play... she's got it all. Come take a look for yourself!

 

Wanda on Facebook

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

Pre-Order Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

Monday, October 20, 2025

Release Blitz: Shadow of The Samhain Moon by Jaylee Austin #releaseday #newbooks #fantasy #romance #rabtbooktours

 


Nordic Monster Romance Series, Book One


Fantasy Romance

Date Published: October 21, 2025



The Scandinavian legend of the undead draugr, Nordic guardian warriors of treasure and the burial mounds of ancient tombs. Tropes fated mates, chosen one and sacrifice.

As autumn descends upon the quaint Scandinavian town of Norskeby, Minnesota, the annual Harvest Festival is on the brink of celebration. Amidst the vibrant pumpkins and ghostly decorations, the townsfolk remain blissfully unaware of the ancient Norse burial ground that lies beneath their feet, a resting place of dark secrets and vengeful spirits.

Elin Bjorn, the town's spirited yet introverted librarian, has always felt an inexplicable pull towards the rich myths of her Scandinavian ancestors. But as Halloween approaches, her fascination with the tales of Draugr, the vengeful undead warriors guarding their treasures takes a dark twist.

Join Elin and Ragnor in this spellbinding tale of love, sacrifice, and the eternal battle between light and darkness, where the true harvest lies in the heart's strength and the unbreakable bonds of the soul.


About the Author

 


 In a whimsical corner of the universe that journey's through the enchanting realms of Wonderland, Jaylee Austin weaves tales that dance between the ethereal and the imaginative.

Her desk, a canvas of creativity, is often interrupted by the playful pounces of her two adorable companions, but none more so than Tilly, her clever alpha pug.

With a spirited background as a retired high school English and Theater teacher, Jaylee brought wit and warmth to the classroom, she invites readers to leap into alternate realities where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and every page is a step further down the rabbit hole.

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser Tuesday: Early Snow by Kevin Wolf #teaser #excerpt #giveaway #mystery




Mystery
Date Published: 11-15-2025

Odyssey Pruit paints pictures of the ghosts and spirits she saw in the halls of an old hotel where she worked ten years before. GUY HOGAN doesn’t believe in ghosts. Hogan is hired to guard Odyssey’s pictures for her first art show in the same old hotel. When an early blizzard closes the roads, knocks out the power and telephone, Hogan is trapped in the hotel with Odyssey’s quirky fans. When imps and ghouls make their presence known, Hogan questions his doubts, and the answer could be murder.


Excerpt


Opening Scene

By noon, the autumn sky had turned from blue to the color of road asphalt.  Treetops bent in the winds funneling into the canyon from the high peaks.  Stray snowflakes splattered the windshield, turned into tiny droplets, and in an instant were gone.  
My best friend and new boss, Dalton Cummings, pulled his pick-up into a parking spot at the back of the big, white hotel and killed the engine.  “The truck with the paintings is supposed to be here in about an hour.”  He pulled up the sleeve of his flannel shirt and checked his Timex for the tenth time.  “We’ll leave our gear in the pickup.  I’ll let the hotel manager know we’re here.  You see if you can find,”--He snatched a clipboard from the dashboard and flipped through the pages–-“damn it, I can never remember her...”         
“Porsche Hurt,” I told him.  “Porsche.  Like the car.  Hurt, like ouch.” 
“That’s one of those damn made-up New York City names if I’ve ever heard one.  Her folks never gave it to her.”
“You’ve said that before.”  Then it hit me.  I held back the smile.  “I know what’s going on.  Ex-game warden Dalton Cummings is nervous about his first paying job since retirement.  What could it be?”  I enjoyed the edge I had over my friend.
Cummings turned toward the window.  His breath painted a gray haze on the glass.
 “Let me guess.”  I wanted to see his face, but he wouldn’t turn back.  “The man who fought forest fires, rescued lost campers, and saved fish and wildlife for generations to come is afraid of a New York woman.”
“That ain’t it.”
“Then what?” 
He shook his head, and the brim of his Stetson left a mark on the fogged window.  “I don’t like hotels,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Hotels.”  He clamped both hands on the steering wheel.  “I’d rather be in my own bed.”  He stared straight ahead.  “I do fine in a sleepin’ bag in the backcountry.  But there’s somethin’ about a little old mint on a fluffy pillow and turned-down sheets that makes me all crawly.”  He shook like he was cold.  “It’s all too fancy.”
“Don’t worry.” I bit back a laugh. “It’s just two nights.  You probably won’t get any sleep anyway.” I couldn’t resist adding one more thing.  “The ghosts will keep you awake.”
Cummings jerked up on the door handle and glanced sideways at me.  He raised his middle finger.  “Screw you, Hogan.” 


About the Author


Kevin Wolf is an award-winning Mystery and Western author. His books include Trailridge (2024), The Homeplace, winner of the 2015 Tony Hillerman Prize and the 2016 Strand Critics Award finalist for Best Debut Mystery. His short story Belthanger received the 2021 Spur Award for Best Short Fiction and his novel, The Bootheel was a 2024 Peacemaker Award finalist.


The legends and landscape of the West are evident in everything he writes. His newest novel, Trailridge, is set against the grandeur of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood. Those who visit Rocky often or have chosen the national park for their once-in-a-lifetime destination will recognize the mountains, valleys, rivers, and the twists and turns of Trailridge as this story races to its climax.In The Homeplace, a schoolboy hero returns after sixteen years to solve a murder in a windswept, dying town on the eastern plains of Colorado. In his short story Belthanger, readers are given a glimpse of a 1950s small town, soon to be bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System, and the drama that unfolds on the town’s darkened streets one night. The BootHeel is a coming-of-age tale of a teenage orphan and an aging gunman as they follow a treasure map into Mexico as the nineteenth century draws to its end.


Kevin Wolf is a member of Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and serves as Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. He facilitates a weekly critique group for other writers. The great-grandson of Colorado homesteaders, he enjoys fly fishing, old Winchesters, and almost every 1950’s Western movie. He lives in Estes Park, CO with his loving and patient wife.

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser Tuesday: DOC by Harley Wylde #excerpt #comingsoon #mcromance #romanticsuspense #rabtbooktours @changelingpress

 


(Dixie Reapers MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: October 24, 2025



When a fierce heroine collides with a hardened outlaw, secrets ignite and sparks fly.

 

Nova -- I was never a part of my uncle Bats’ outlaw MC world. He kept me far from the Dixie Reapers, convinced distance meant safety. But when my parents died in a crash I know wasn’t an accident, I walk straight into the world I’ve been shielded from, where every secret carries blood, betrayal, and danger. Each step puts a bigger target on my back, but I can’t stop. Not when the conspiracy reached higher than I ever imagined. And then there’s Doc. He’s a risk I can’t afford, no matter how much I want him.

Doc -- I patched into the Dixie Reapers for a fresh start, not to guard the 19 year old niece of a fallen brother. As a veteran and the club’s medic, I know how to fight, save lives, and bury temptation. But Nova’s stubborn, reckless, and too tempting to resist. I fell fast, and hard. Once I’ve set eyes on her, I’m not letting go. Protecting her tests me more than any battlefield ever has, but losing her isn’t an option.

Enemies circle like vultures -- dirty cops, corrupt judges, men willing to kill to silence us. Together we uncover a deadly web of human trafficking and murder. But in the outlaw world, justice comes at a cost. Nova is mine, and I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone take her.

 

If you like possessive alpha males, gritty MC romance, heart-pounding suspense, and age gap romances, you’re going to love Doc and Nova’s story!

 

WARNING: This book contains mature themes, government corruption, human trafficking, violence, and adult content. Reader discretion advised.

 


 

EXCERPT

 

Nova

 

My little Honda looked pathetic among the gleaming motorcycles, like a child who’d accidentally wandered into an adult party. I gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, as I scanned the Dixie Reapers clubhouse. Uncle Bats had always warned me to stay away from this place, from his world. But Uncle Bats was dead, and I needed answers that only his brothers might have.

The folder and notebook on my passenger seat contained everything I had left of my mother -- her research notes, newspaper clippings, and a lifetime of suspicions that had probably gotten her killed. I picked them up, clutching them to my chest like armor.

“You can do this, Nova,” I whispered to myself. “For Mom and Dad.”

I took three deep breaths, counting each one the way my therapist had taught me after the accident. Except it wasn’t an accident. I knew it wasn’t, no matter what the police report said.

Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot. Men in leather cuts moved between motorcycles, their laughter and conversations a low rumble that stopped abruptly when they noticed my car. I felt their gazes on me, assessing, suspicious.

Uncle Bats had kept me secret from them, and while I knew of the Dixie Reapers, I’d never been allowed to meet them. Now I was about to shatter that barrier. The thought sent a tremor through my hands, but I shoved the fear down deep where it couldn’t reach my face.

I stepped out of the car, my sensible flats crunching on the gravel. Five feet tall in my best shoes, I’d never felt smaller than I did walking toward that building. The folder and notebook clutched to my chest were my only shield against their stares.

“Hey, darlin’, you lost?” called one man, his tone somewhere between amused and suspicious. Tattoos covered his arms and disappeared beneath the leather vest emblazoned with the Dixie Reapers patch.

I kept walking, eyes forward, spine straight the way my mother had taught me. “Look them in the eye, Nova,” she’d say. “Don’t let them think you’re afraid, even when you are.”

The surrounding conversations died one by one, replaced by silence and the weight of two dozen stares. I could feel them taking in my brown hair, my hazel eyes, my five-foot-nothing frame that had never intimidated anyone. I probably looked like a strong wind could blow me over, but they didn’t know about the steel underneath. They didn’t know I was Mary-Jane’s daughter.

The clubhouse door loomed ahead, guarded by a mountain of a man with a graying beard and hands the size of dinner plates. His cut identified him as a full member, not just a hang-around. He stepped directly into my path, forcing me to stop or walk straight into his chest.

“Clubhouse is members only, sweetheart,” he said, voice like gravel. “Whatever you’re selling, we ain’t buying.”

Tiling my chin up, I met his gaze. “I’m not selling anything. I need to speak with whoever’s in charge.”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “That so? And what business would a little thing like you have with the Dixie Reapers?”

The men behind me had moved closer, forming a loose semicircle. I could feel them at my back, curiosity and suspicion rolling off them in waves.

“My name is Nova Treemont. I’m Bats’ niece.”

The effect was immediate. The doorman’s expression shifted from dismissive to shocked in an instant. A murmur rippled through the men behind me.

“Bullshit,” someone whispered.

“Bats never had family,” said another.

“He had a sister,” another voice said.

The doorman’s eyes narrowed, searching my face. “Bats never mentioned no niece.”

“He wouldn’t have.” I met his gaze. “He kept me out of… all this. For protection.” I gestured at the clubhouse with my free hand. “But he’s gone now, and I need help. The kind only the Dixie Reapers can provide.”

The doorman studied me for what felt like an eternity, his gaze moving from my face to the items I clutched and back again. I could almost see the gears turning behind his eyes, weighing the possibility I was telling the truth against the risk of letting a stranger into their sanctuary.

“Wait here.” He turned to enter the clubhouse.

I stood rooted to the spot, aware of the bikers still watching me. I could feel the curiosity and hostility aimed my way. I kept my breathing even, pretending I couldn’t feel their stares boring into my back.

The doorman returned a minute later, holding the door open. “Come on,” he said gruffly.

I stepped past him into a world my uncle had spent his life shielding me from. The air was thick with cigarette smoke that clung to the furniture and walls. The smell of beer and whiskey undercut everything, along with something else -- something distinctly male and dangerous.

Pool balls clacked on a table where a game paused mid-shot as players turned to stare. Behind a long bar, bottles gleamed under dim lights. Motorcycle memorabilia covered the walls -- license plates, photos.

It should have felt alien, this place my blood relation had called home. Instead, deep inside me, something whispered recognition. As if some part of me had been waiting to find this place my whole life.

The doorman nudged me forward with a hand that could have wrapped around my entire upper arm. “This way.” He guided me deeper into the clubhouse. “They’re waiting.”

I followed, clutching my mother’s research to my chest, aware that I was crossing a threshold I could never uncross. Behind me, I heard someone say softly, “Mary-Jane’s kid? Jesus Christ.”

They’d known my mother then. At least some of them had known, and they’d stayed away all these years. Just as Bats had intended.

The thought steadied me as I walked toward whatever waited ahead. I wasn’t just Nova Treemont anymore. I was Mary-Jane’s daughter, Bats’ niece. And I had questions that needed answering, no matter how dangerous the answers might be.

The back room was darker than the main area. Five men sat around a table, their faces half in shadow, their cuts marking them as the officers of the Dixie Reapers. I stood before them, a girl in jeans and a cardigan, feeling like I was facing a firing squad. But I’d come too far to falter now.

The doorman who’d escorted me in gave a brief nod to the man at the head of the table before stepping back, positioning himself in front of the closed door. Message received: I wasn’t leaving until they decided I could.

“So,” said the man at the head of the table. His neatly trimmed gray beard and dark eyes seemed sharp beneath heavy brows. The patches on his cut read, “President -- Savior.” “You claim to be Bats’ niece.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “I am Bats’ niece. My mother was Mary-Jane Treemont, his younger sister.”

A muscle in the President’s jaw twitched. “Bats was a brother to us for a long ass time. Never once mentioned a niece.”

“He was protecting me. Keeping his family separate from… this life.”

One of the other men -- younger, with a Vice President patch -- snorted. “Convenient story, sweetheart. Got any proof?”

I unzipped my bag and pulled out a small photo album, sliding it across the table. “Page three. That’s my mother and uncle at her college graduation.”

I watched as the President flipped to the page, his expression unchanging as he studied the photo of a much younger Bats with his arm around my mother.

“Could be anyone.” The VP’s tone lacked conviction.

“Check the next page,” I said. “That’s from my parents’ wedding. My mother, my father, and uncle.”

The President studied the photo longer this time before passing the album to the man next to him. It made its way around the table, each man taking a moment to examine the proof of a side of Bats they’d never known.

“So you’re his niece.” The President slid the album back across the table. “What do you want from us?”

I took a deep breath and placed my folder on the table. “My parents died several weeks ago in what was ruled a car accident. Their car went off the road. Police said my father lost control.”

“And you don’t believe that.” The VP watched me with narrowed eyes.

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t. My mother was an investigative journalist. She was working on a story.” I opened the folder, spreading out newspaper clippings and photocopied notes across the scarred wood. “She was investigating connections between Magnolia County officials and organized crime. Money laundering, illegal gambling, possibly human trafficking.”

The men exchanged glances, their expressions giving nothing away. I’d honestly expected some sort of reaction, especially since this was happening in their territory. My uncle had always been clear that while he may be an outlaw, some things weren’t tolerated.

“Three days before she died, she called me,” I continued. “She said she’d found something big. Something that would blow the whole thing wide open. She wouldn’t tell me details over the phone, said she’d show me everything when they came to visit that weekend.” My voice cracked slightly. “They never made it.”

I pulled out a copy of the police report, pointing to highlighted sections. “The accident report says the car was traveling at high speed, that my father lost control. But my father never drove fast. He was cautious, meticulous. And the witness statements are vague. No one actually saw the car go off the road.”

“Accidents happen.” An older member with a gray ponytail watched me intently. “Doesn’t mean someone killed your parents.”

I met his gaze directly. “After the funeral, our house was broken into. Nothing valuable was taken, but my mother’s home office was ransacked. Her computer was gone. All her files.”

That got their attention. The men straightened, exchanging glances that spoke volumes.

“I managed to salvage these.” I gestured to the documents on the table. “She kept backups in a safety deposit box. But it’s not everything. There are references to evidence she had that I can’t find.”

The President leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “And what exactly do you expect us to do about this, Ms. Treemont?”

“I’ve tried the legal route,” I said. “I’ve been to the police, the FBI, even a private investigator. No one will touch it. The case is closed.” I swallowed hard. “My uncle –Bats -- once told my mother that if she ever needed help, real help, she should come to his brothers. That you take care of your own.”

“Bats said that?” The VP’s eyebrows raised.

“He did,” I confirmed. “And with him gone, you’re all I have left.”

The President’s eyes were unreadable as he studied my face. “You understand what you’re asking? If what you’re saying is true, you’re talking about going up against powerful people. The kind that can make a car accident happen.”

“I know.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “But they killed my parents. They’ve been watching me too. Cars following me home. Strange calls. Last week someone broke into my apartment.” I pulled up my sleeve, revealing a jagged raw wound on my forearm. “I surprised him. He had a knife.”

That drew a low curse from one of the men who hadn’t spoken yet.

“Before she died, my mother dug into something dangerous -- something big enough to get her killed. These bastards still tried to bury it, but I swore I’d drag the truth into the light and make them pay.” My gaze cut across the table, meeting each man’s eyes in turn. “Justice for my parents is the only thing that matters.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of the main room beyond the door.

Finally, the President gathered up my mother’s papers, tapping them into a neat stack. “Wait outside.”

The doorman stepped forward, opening the door for me. I hesitated, reluctant to leave my mother’s research behind.

“We’ll return these,” the President said, seeing my hesitation. “Go on now.”

I had no choice but to comply. The doorman escorted me back to the main room, indicating a worn leather couch against the wall. “Sit tight.”

I perched on the edge of the couch, feeling the weight of curious stares from the men scattered around the room. No one approached me, but I could hear the whispers.

“… Bats’ niece…”

“… Mary-Jane’s kid…”

“… looks just like her mother…”

That last comment made me look up sharply, trying to identify who had spoken. An older member nodded at me from the bar, raising his beer bottle slightly. “Knew your mama when she was younger than you. Bats always said she was the smart one in the family. Said she could sniff out a lie from a mile away.”

A lump formed in my throat. I’d never heard anyone talk about my mother like that, like they’d known her personally. “Did you know her well?”

The man shrugged. “Well enough. Your uncle always spoke highly of her investigative skills. Said she could’ve been FBI if she hadn’t been so damn stubborn about working outside the system.”

That sounded like my mother. And it sounded like something Uncle Bats would say.

I sat straighter, hope kindling in my chest for the first time since I’d arrived. Maybe they would help me after all. Maybe I’d finally get the answers I’d been seeking for several weeks.

I just had to convince them I was worth the risk.

I traced the edge of my mother’s notebook with my fingertip, counting the seconds that stretched into minutes. The leather couch beneath me had seen better days, cracked and worn by years of men larger than me shifting their weight. Around the room, bikers pretended not to watch me while doing exactly that. I wondered if Uncle Bats had sat here, on this very couch, planning runs or celebrating victories I’d never know about.

My gaze drifted to a wall of photos near the bar -- men in Dixie Reapers cuts, arms slung around each other’s shoulders, grins splitting their bearded faces. I rose slowly, drawn to search for my uncle’s face among them. A few members tensed as I moved, but none stopped me.

There he was. Younger, with fewer lines around his eyes, his arm thrown around another member, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him during his rare visits to our home. He’d always been on edge around us, as if expecting trouble to follow him through our door.

Now I understood why.

“He was a good man,” said a voice behind me.

I turned to find the older member who’d spoken to me earlier, the one who’d known my mother.

“One of our best,” he continued. “Loyal to the bone.”

“But not loyal enough to tell you about his family,” I said softly.

The old biker’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. “That was his loyalty to you, girl. Keeping you separate. Safe.” He nodded toward the back room. “Not many of us manage that trick.”

Before I could respond, the door to the back room opened. The President emerged, followed by the others. The room fell silent as they approached.

“Ms. Treemont,” the President said, his voice carrying across the now-quiet clubhouse. “We’ve discussed your situation.”

I returned to the couch, perching on its edge, hands folded in my lap to hide their trembling. “And?”

“Bats was our brother.” The President spoke in a measured voice, choosing each word with care. “That carries weight. But what you’re asking involves the club in what appears to be a personal vendetta against powerful people, based on circumstantial evidence.”

My heart sank. “It’s not just --”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t help. I said you’re asking a lot.”

Hope flickered back to life in my chest.

“We’ll hear you out,” he continued. “Review what you’ve brought us. But I can’t promise involvement beyond that. Understand?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” His expression remained stern. “This isn’t a democracy. I make decisions based on what’s best for the club, not for outsiders -- even ones with Bats’ blood.”


About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

 

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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