Monday, February 23, 2026

Release Blitz: Ivy Leigh Ever After by Gael Lynch #childrensbook #giveaway #middlegrade #rabtbooktours @gaellynch



Middle Grade Fiction

Date Published: Feb 24, 2026

Publisher: Small Circles Press


Ivy’s life is a swirl of turbulence and change. It’s been almost a year since her sweet momma has died. Bottled up feelings tear her apart inside. Grandma wants to take her little dog away. Her BFFs pressure her to change. The cutest boy in school has a crush on her.

“It’s the universe, Ivy Leigh, welcoming in a little change.” Mr. Winters, her neighbor, a wannabe cowboy, tells her one day. But change is so confusing. When a pair of bullies taunt her on the bus and tease her at school, Ivy makes a giant mistake.

With a mix of humor and poignant moments and a quirky cast of neighbors and friends, Ivy finds a way to understand herself and make up for that mistake she’s made. Best of all, Ivy remembers Momma: Feelings are like fireflies caught in a jar, Ivy Leigh. They belong in the open, where a warm breeze can carry them away!


About the Author

 

 Gael Lynch is a writer and storyteller, a teacher whose love of kids and furry creatures has followed her throughout her life. She now lives in coastal Carolina, a place of sunny beaches and warm breezes with her husband Tom and her rambunctious golden retriever, Wrigley. However, Newtown, Connecticut, with its pastoral beauty and kind-hearted people will always be a place she calls home.


Contact Links

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Facebook

Twitter @gaellynch

Goodreads

Instagram: @lynchgael






RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: Long Lost Midwifeby Skye Smith #nowontour #historicalfiction #rabtbooktours






Historical Fiction | Race & Identity | Women’s Stories | 1930s America

Date Published: September 19, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



Set against the charged racial landscape of 1934 St. Louis, Long Lost Midwife is a gripping historical novel about identity, obsession, and the dangerous cost of defying social order.

Pamela appears to be a privileged young white socialite, newly married and expecting her first child. But beneath the polished surface lies a restless, unsettled woman struggling against the suffocating expectations placed upon her. As her pregnancy advances, Pamela becomes fixated on one thing: finding Miss Minnie, the Black midwife who delivered her at home in 1911.

Her request ignites fierce resistance. Both families condemn the idea, and Pamela’s husband, Frank, fearing scandal and loss of control, tightens his grip—bringing in relatives to monitor her movements and even hiring surveillance to ensure she never makes contact with the midwife. Determined and increasingly reckless, Pamela secretly pressures her Black maid to help locate Miss Minnie, setting in motion a chain of events neither family can contain.

What begins as a quiet domestic drama escalates into a volatile confrontation with race, power, and truth. As long-buried histories surface, the search for a midwife becomes a catalyst for racial tension, betrayal, and violence—raising the chilling question: will this birth end in life… or murder?

Long Lost Midwife starts with measured restraint and builds relentlessly toward a tempestuous, unforgettable conclusion. It is a haunting exploration of white blindness, Black resilience, and the fragile illusions that sustain privilege in early 20th-century America.


Perfect for readers who enjoy:

● Thought-provoking historical fiction

● Novels examining race, class, and gender

● Character-driven stories set in pre-Civil Rights America

● Books that begin quietly and end with devastating force

 



About the Author


Skye Smith is a historical fiction author and retired mechanical designer whose career spanned decades of designing complex machinery using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) systems. That background in precision and structure deeply informs Smith’s approach to storytelling—where narrative architecture, historical accuracy, and character motivation are carefully engineered.

During the final ten years of a professional career, Smith moderated the Plymouth Writers Group, a MeetUp-based genre writing collective composed of engineers, doctors, legal professionals, technical writers, and MFA graduates. Within this collaborative environment, Smith completed first drafts of three novels, with two additional works developed independently.

Smith holds a degree in History from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, an academic foundation that profoundly shapes the thematic and contextual grounding of the work. Historical setting, for Smith, is never decorative—it is the backbone of character behavior and moral conflict.

Another significant creative influence comes from many years singing in Sonomento, a Minneapolis-based operatic choir active until 2024. Immersion in opera introduced Smith to the disciplined exactness of musical phrasing and libretto, where text is fluid, expressive, and shaped by emotional register. That sense of linguistic “plasticity” carries directly into Smith’s prose style.

Long Lost Midwife reflects these influences in a novel that begins with restraint and builds toward controlled chaos—examining race, power, and identity in 1930s America with precision, tension, and historical depth.


Contact Links

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Purchase Links

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Barnes and Noble





February 24 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

February 25 - Always Reading - Excerpt

February 26 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

February 27 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

March 2 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

March 3 - The Indie Express - Review

March 4 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

March 5 - Iron Canuck Reviews - Excerpt

March 6 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

March 9 - The Avid Reader - Interview

March 10 - Novel News Network - Review

March 11 - Sarandipity's - Excerpt

March 12 - Texas Book Nook - Review

March 13 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

March 16 - Deal Sharing Aunt - Spotlight

March 17 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

March 18 - On a Reading Bender - Review

March 19 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

March 20 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

March 20 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: Eternal Dominion by Dan Hardez #nowontour #epicfantasy #fantasy #rabtbooktours






The Eden Vault, Book One


Epic Fantasy

Date Published: September 12, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



In a continent shaped by ancient secrets and forgotten science, power is measured not only in armies—but in monsters.

For centuries, the Kingdom of Valkalor has ruled through terror, harnessing prehistoric creatures to crush rivals and expand its dominion. Bound beneath the reign of the ruthless King Gadrion, the realm teeters on the edge of total war. When a new external threat emerges—one powerful enough to destroy the fragile balance restraining Gadrion’s ambition—the king seizes his moment.

But his plans begin to unravel when his daughters, Kendra and Cerelia, uncover the horrifying truth behind their father’s designs.

Forced into exile and hunted across savage lands, the sisters must navigate a brutal world of political intrigue, assassins, mercenaries, and carnivorous saurians. Their only hope lies in the Eden Vault—a legendary and ancient chamber rumored to wield power over creation itself.

As rival kingdoms march toward genocide and war threatens to consume the known world, impossible choices loom:

● Will uniting their father’s enemies ignite an even greater catastrophe?

● Can the Vault stop the coming war—or unleash a force far worse?

● And who is truly manipulating events from the shadows of Valkalor’s rise?


Blending epic fantasy, science fantasy, and high-stakes thriller pacing, Eternal Dominion launches The Eden Vault Series—a sweeping saga of dynastic power struggles, dinosaur-driven warfare, dark magic-adjacent mythologies, and deeply personal journeys of love, loyalty, and rebellion.

Perfect for readers who love:

● Epic fantasy with political intrigue

● Dark fantasy with moral complexity

● Monster and dinosaur-driven worlds

● Strong heroine-led narratives

● High-action, cinematic storytelling


⚠️ Content Warning: Written for mature adult readers. Includes graphic violence, trauma, war, strong language, an intimate scene, and occasional drug use.

The war is coming.
The Vault is real.
And time is running out.


About the Author


Dan Hardez is an epic fantasy and science-fantasy author, lifelong learner, and storyteller whose work blends cinematic action, political intrigue, and speculative science into immersive secondary worlds.

An avid reader from childhood, Dan’s imagination was ignited early by novels that fused science, history, and suspense—sparking a lifelong fascination with worldbuilding and high-stakes storytelling. He completed his first novel-length story at age eleven and dreamed of crafting sweeping epics that explored power, discovery, and the cost of ambition.

Life eventually pulled him away from writing as he pursued a career and raised a family, but during the COVID pandemic—amid isolation and personal transition—Dan returned to the page after nearly two decades away. What began as an experiment quickly reignited his creative drive, evolving into The Eden Vault Series, a sprawling saga shaped by years of lived experience and deep research.

Dan is the author of Eternal Dominion, the flagship novel of the series, along with three prequel anthologies—Spectra, Cinderr, and Azemar—with the sequel, Fallen Crescents, currently in progress. His stories draw heavily from history, politics, paleontology, anthropology, and emerging scientific concepts, woven into dark, character-driven fantasy worlds.

A self-described “pantser,” Dan writes without rigid outlines, allowing characters to steer the narrative in unexpected directions. He often says he knows how the saga will end—but not always how the characters will get there.

By day, Dan balances a full-time career and raising two incredible kids. By night, he continues building the world of Valkalor, driven by a passion for storytelling and a deep appreciation for the readers who step into his worlds.

When he’s not writing, Dan enjoys traveling, following professional sports, and escaping into Colorado’s outdoors.

Readers can explore more about The Eden Vault Series, upcoming releases, and exclusive content at danielhardez.com, and connect with him on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and beyond.

 

Contact Links

Website

TikTok

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Kindle

Spectra

Cinderr

Azemar





February 24 - Always Reading - Excerpt

February 25 - Interesting Authors - Spotlight

February 26 - Sarandipity's - Excerpt

February 27 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

March 2 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

March 3 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

March 4 - Novel News Network - Review

March 5 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

March 6 - The Avid Reader - Interview

March 9 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

March 10 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

March 11 - The Indie Express - Review

March 12 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

March 13 - Boys' Mom Reads - Excerpt

March 16 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

March 17 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

March 18 - Texas Book Nook - Review

March 19 - Candlelight Reading - Review

March 20 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: The Radiance of Grace by Margaret Cotton #nowontour #historical #fiction #Rabtbooktours






Historical Novel / Literary

Date Published: October 22, 2025



Before the First Amendment, three courageous women helped shape its soul.

The Radiance of Grace is the powerful, true story of Mary Dyer, Katherine Scott, and Anne Hutchinson—three extraordinary women whose faith, friendship, and moral courage challenged the rigid Puritan authority of 17th-century New England.

More than 150 years before the American Constitution, these Boston women stood for freedom of religion, conscience, and speech, refusing to surrender their personal relationship with God to institutional control. Their activism—rooted in scripture, compassion, and community—sparked social and political reform at a time when women were expected to remain silent.

Leading Bible studies attended by more than 150 people each week, they became influential voices within their communities. When Puritan leadership responded with harassment, exile, and public punishment, the abuse meant to silence them instead strengthened their resolve. Their lives intertwined with men who admired them, men who despised them, and families who endured the cost of conviction.

Drawing from **extensive historical research—including journals, court records, letters, and firsthand accounts—**and woven together with informed imagination, Margaret Cotton brings these overlooked women vividly to life. Their story reveals the deepest roots of American liberty and challenges modern readers to consider:

● What does it mean to live faithfully under unjust authority?

● How far are we willing to go for freedom of conscience?

● What is the personal cost of standing for truth?


The Radiance of Grace is an intimate, inspiring historical narrative for readers of:

● Women’s history

● Early American and colonial history

● Faith-based and Christian nonfiction

● Social justice and religious freedom

● Readers drawn to untold stories that shaped the foundation of America


These women were nearly erased from history—but their legacy still calls us to courage, purpose, and grace.

It is time to hear their true story.



About the Author


Margaret Cotton is an author and lifelong storyteller who writes books she longs to read—stories of compelling characters facing complex moral choices. The Radiance of Grace is her first historical narrative. It is an invitation for readers to engage with history, conscience, and transformation. Margaret describes her writing process as both surrender and gratitude—a deep immersion where research, imagination, doubt, and discovery converge until clarity emerges.

Her writing journey is rooted in both scholarship and wonder. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant for Independent Study, Margaret spent years researching female faith activism in 17th-century New England—a topic that would eventually become The Radiance of Grace. Although she attempted the story earlier, she paused for two decades, trusting that the time was not yet right.

Her confidence grew during the writing of her first book, Raised!, a true miracle memoir that revealed an uncanny alignment between informed imagination and the creative flow of unexpected truth. With advice from a seasoned New York editor and an evolving sense of purpose, Margaret subsequently returned to this historical work—where, she says, “The story finally developed as it was meant to be told and at the right time.”

Margaret Cotton was a featured presenter at reading and writing workshops, professional conferences, and continuing education events in multiple states and Central America. Her copyrighted educational materials emphasize the value of a cognitive conversation between the writing and comprehension processes for middle grade students. She is equally comfortable speaking to book clubs and historical societies.

As a Certified Professional Photographer (PPA), Margaret photographed more than 250 weddings, including international venues—an experience that deepened her understanding of human connection, resilience, and the deep longing for story within all cultures. She lives with her husband of over fifty years, is the mother of two, grandmother of seven, and believes that curiosity, faith, and purpose only deepen with time.

 

Contact Links

Website


Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble





February 24 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

February 25 - Deal Sharing Aunt - Excerpt

February 26 - Lisa's Reading - Spotlight

February 27 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

March 2 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

March 3 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

March 4 - The Indie Express - Review

March 5 - Sarandipity's - Excerpt

March 6 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

March 9 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

March 10 - Texas Book Nook - Review

March 11 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

March 12 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

March 13 - The Avid Reader - Interview

March 16 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

March 17 - On a Reading Bender - Review

March 18 - Novel News Network - Review

March 19 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

March 20 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: Shifting Gears in the Crossroads by Darryl Heffline #nowontour #nonfiction #business #rabtbooktours @HefflineDarryl






Business Nonfiction

Date Published: December 1, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



Your disruption is not a setback—it’s a setup for success.

At some point, every leader, entrepreneur, and professional reaches a crossroads. A career shift. A business disruption. A personal wake-up call. When what was working no longer fits who you are becoming, the question isn’t if change is coming—it’s how you respond.

In Shifting Gears in the Crossroads, veteran CEO, turnaround expert, and servant leader Darryl Heffline shares a powerful, faith-anchored roadmap for navigating life’s most pivotal transitions with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Drawing on more than 40 years of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial leadership, Heffline shows how planned or unexpected disruptions can become defining moments of transformation—if you know how to shift gears.

Inside, you’ll discover two proven frameworks:

🔹 The Four Phases of Transformation

Reposition – Let go of what no longer serves you

Rebuild – Strengthen your foundation with intention

Re-Emerge – Step forward with renewed clarity and confidence

Realize – Align your life, leadership, and calling


🔹 The Five Essential Steps to Build a Compelling Case for Change

          1. Recognize the Need for Change
          2. Assess the Current State
          3. Identify the Future State
          4. Map One or Two Viable Paths Forward
          5. Make the Right Choice and Commit with Conviction


Through honest, often humorous, and deeply relatable stories—including Ted the Entrepreneur, Jim the Entrepreneur, and Darryl’s own journey from startup founder to corporate intrapreneur—this book blends practical business wisdom with spiritual insight.

You’ll also gain access to downloadable tools and models designed to help you move beyond surface-level change into lasting transformation.

This book is perfect for:
● Recent college graduates entering the workforce

● Entrepreneurs launching, scaling, or exiting a business

● Early- to mid-career professionals seeking meaning and direction

● Faith-driven leaders navigating uncertainty with purpose


Whether you’re standing at a career crossroads, a leadership transition, or a personal turning point, Shifting Gears in the Crossroads will help you move from Here to There—with faith, focus, and forward momentum.

 


About the Author


Darryl Heffline is a seasoned CEO, turnaround expert, and servant leader with more than 40 years of experience helping people and organizations transform and grow. A serial entrepreneur turned intrapreneur, Darryl has launched six startups, led three major turnarounds, executed multiple acquisitions, and driven transformational growth within Fortune 100 companies.

Over the course of his career, he has raised more than $7 million in capital, secured $125 million in annualized contracts, and delivered over $100 million in measurable enterprise value through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and innovation. His work includes turning a struggling $6 million product line into a $60 million business, ultimately scaling toward $150 million in revenue with double-digit EBITDA performance in under three years.

An award-winning business plan writer, Darryl brings his real-world experience to readers through his debut book, Shifting Gears in the Crossroads, with future sequels planned.

Beyond business, Darryl is deeply committed to faith, family, and mentorship. He is a devoted husband of thirty years, father of two, and grandfather of two. A lay minister, wedding officiant, small-group leader, and coach, he has served in more than 35 ministry leadership roles across six states, including Elder, Worship Leader, Teacher, and Mentor.

Together with his wife Dana—an accomplished musician, worship leader, and ministry partner—Darryl continues to invest in discipleship, leadership development, and purpose-driven living. Whether in the boardroom, the church, or the classroom, his mission remains the same: to help others navigate change, discover calling, and lead with integrity.

 

Contact Links

Website

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

"X"


Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N





February 24 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

February 25 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

February 26 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

February 27 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

March 2 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

March 3 - On a Reading Bender - Review

March 4 - Sarandipity's - Excerpt

March 5 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

March 6 - A Life Through Books - Interview

March 9 -The Avid Reader - Interview

March 10 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

March 11 - Texas Book Nook - Review

March 12 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

March 16 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

March 17 - The Indie Express - Review

March 18 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

March 19 - Novel News Network - Review

March 20 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds by Derrick Pledger #nowontour #selfhelp #motivational #nonfiction #rabtbooktours




 

Change Your Mindset to Achieve Desired Outcomes
Self-help, Motivational, Success, Transformational Psychology

Date Published: November 8, 2023


 

 What if the biggest obstacle to your success isn’t your circumstances—but your mindset?


Every day, your brain consumes a steady diet of negative news, social media noise, unhealthy beliefs, and self-limiting ideas. Just like poor nutrition damages the body, poor mental input sabotages discipline, productivity, and long-term success.


In Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds, U.S. Army combat veteran, Fortune 500 technology executive, and high-performance advisor Derrick Pledger delivers a powerful and practical framework for transforming how you think, act, and achieve.


This thought-provoking and highly accessible book presents 100 short lessons—called “recipes”—designed to help you detox your mindset, strengthen discipline, and build habits that compound into life-changing results.


Whether your goal is career advancement, entrepreneurship, improved relationships, better health, or personal fulfillment, this book shows you how success is built—not overnight—but daily.


Inside This Book, You’ll Learn How To:

● Reframe failure as fuel for growth and long-term achievement
● Build discipline and consistency without burnout
● Eliminate self-sabotaging behaviors and mental clutter
● Develop habits that drive upward mobility and performance
● Create clarity around goals and obsess over what matters
● Treat your brain like your body—by feeding it the right “mental nutrients”


Grounded in real-world experience, extensive research, and years of personal journaling, Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds distills complex success principles into clear, actionable insights you can apply in minutes a day.


Why Readers Love This Book

Readers from all walks of life have experienced profound transformation, including:


● Losing significant weight and reclaiming control over their health
● Advancing from mid-level roles to executive leadership positions
● Gaining clarity, confidence, and momentum after years of stagnation

“I read this book on a four-hour flight and landed as a completely different person.”


This isn’t motivational fluff. It’s a mental operating system for becoming a daily achiever—someone who understands that success is the by-product of learning, failing forward, and getting better every single day.


If you’re ready to put your brain on a better mental diet and finally achieve the outcomes you want, this book is your recipe for success.

 


About the Author

 

 Derrick Pledger is a U.S. Army combat veteran, Fortune 500 technology executive, digital strategist, and author passionate about helping people unlock their full potential through mindset, discipline, and intentional action.

Currently serving as Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at Maximus Inc., Derrick leads enterprise-wide technology strategy, artificial intelligence operations, and large-scale digital modernization initiatives. With more than 20 years of industry experience, his expertise spans systems integration, automation, cloud and edge computing, AI, data analytics, IT governance, and end-to-end solution development.


Before joining Maximus, Derrick was Chief Information Officer at Leidos, where he oversaw global IT delivery operations supporting a $17-billion organization with more than 48,000 employees worldwide. Earlier in his career, he ran a multi-million-dollar export business in his twenties and became a Fortune 500 CIO by age forty.


As an author, Derrick’s journey is rooted in resilience and persistence. While serving in the U.S. Army, he transformed a failed screenplay into a novel manuscript—written during downtime in Iraq. After dozens of rejections, that effort led to a co-written book deal with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, resulting in the 2008 release of The Diamond District.


Fifteen years later, driven by a mission to democratize success, Derrick released his second book, Your Brain Weighs 500 Pounds, after investing more than 1,500 hours researching mindset, habits, and high-performance behaviors. His work challenges conventional thinking about failure, goal-setting, and achievement, offering readers a practical blueprint for sustained personal and professional growth.
In addition to writing, Derrick advises individuals, teams, and organizations on high performance and leadership, and he is a partner at 500 Pound Media, a digital content company focused on personal development and achievement.


Born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Derrick believes that success is not reserved for the lucky or the privileged—but for those willing to develop the right mindset and show up consistently, even when failure is part of the process.


Contact Links
Instagram: @derrickrpledger
Youtube: @500poundmedia 


Purchase Links






February 24 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

February 25 - The Indie Express - Review

February 26 - Books 1987 - Spotlight

February 27 - Always Reading - Excerpt

March 2 -A Life Through Books - Interview

March 3 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

March 4 - The Avid Reader - Interview

March 5 - Sarandipity's - Excerpt

March 6 - Book Corner News and Reviews - Spotlight

March 9 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

March 10 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

March 11 - On a Reading Bender - Review

March 12 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

March 13 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

March 16 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

March 17 - Novel News Network - Review

March 18 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

March 19 - Texas Book Nook - Review

March 20 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Teaser: Enemies With Benefits by Wanda Violet O. #excerpt #comingsoon #preorder #bdsm #erotica #rabtbooktours @ChangelingPress

 


Sanctum Black (#1)

A Razor’s Edge Enemies to Lovers BDSM Erotica Short


BDSM Erotica

Date Published: February 27, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press



Power made them enemies. Desire makes them reckless. One surrender changes everything.

Mira: Elias Hartmann is a billionaire power player and my biggest professional obstacle. Six months of brutal negotiations turned into six months of tension I refuse to name. Every meeting is a battle. Every look feels like a challenge I shouldn’t want to accept. Then I receive an invitation to Sanctum Black. A private sex club where power, and desire collide. When Elias appears, I should leave. Instead, I let him show me exactly how thin the line is between control and surrender. Outside, we’re enemies fighting for the upper hand. Inside, I give him everything I pretend I don’t crave.

Elias: Mira Calder doesn’t bend. She dismantles. Brilliant, relentless, and impossible to ignore. I wanted her from the first meeting. Not romance. Not dates. I wanted to break her composure and earn her surrender. Sanctum Black gives us rules, boundaries, and privacy with no consequences. Just heat, power, and obsession in a safe, anonymous environment. She’s my equal in the boardroom. In the dark, she’s mine to challenge and claim. Enemies to lovers. High-stakes power play. One mistake neither of us can afford to walk away from untouched.



Excerpt


All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2026 Wanda Violet O.

Mira

The moment I crossed the threshold of my apartment, I kicked off my heels, not caring where they landed. My feet throbbed with the special kind of pain reserved for women who spent twelve hours in Italian leather torture devices, all for the sake of standing eye-to-eye with men who confused height with authority. The negotiation with Elias Hartmann had dragged on until sunset, both of us refusing to yield on key points until our respective teams were practically falling asleep at the table. I’d won this round, but victory felt hollow when measured against the ache behind my eyes.

“Fuck it,” I muttered to no one, dropping my briefcase on the entryway bench. My apartment greeted me with familiar silence, the kind I usually found comforting after days filled with strategic verbal combat. Tonight, though, it felt like just another empty space.

I shrugged off my blazer and hung it with more care than I’d shown my shoes. Six hundred dollars of tailored wool deserved better, even if I couldn’t muster the energy to pick up my heels, which were now scattered across my polished hardwood floor. My blouse came next, the top three buttons already undone during the elevator ride up. Freedom, in small increments.

The wine rack in my kitchen called to me like a beacon. I selected a Cabernet I’d been saving, though I couldn’t remember why. Some mythical special occasion that never materialized. The cork came free with a satisfying pop that echoed in my silent kitchen.

I didn’t bother with a glass at first, taking a generous swig straight from the bottle. Only after that initial hit did I pour properly, the dark liquid swirling as I carried it to my living room. The tension in my neck had transformed into something solid, a concrete weight pressing down on my spine. I rolled my head, feeling vertebrae pop in protest.

Elias fucking Hartmann. The man was infuriating. Brilliant, undoubtedly, but maddening in a way that made me want to either slap him or…

I cut that thought off, unwilling to follow where it led. Six months of negotiations over this acquisition, and the progress we’d made could be measured in millimeters. Every concession was a battle, every clause scrutinized with microscopic closeness.

I raised my wine glass to take a healthy pull. I couldn’t deny the grudging respect I’d developed for my opponent. He had a mind like a steel trap and eyes that missed nothing. Including, I suspected, the way my breath sometimes caught when he leaned too close across the conference table.

I massaged my temples, pressing hard enough to make little starbursts appear behind my closed eyelids. Professional attraction was a complication I didn’t need. Especially not with someone whose corporate ambitions directly opposed my client’s interests.

Something caught my eye as I passed entryway table. A black envelope, sleek and heavy, with a minimalist gold emblem stamped in the corner. I froze, wine glass halfway to my lips. It definitely hadn’t been there this morning.

Setting down my glass, I approached the envelope cautiously, as though it might bite. My building had excellent security, a key consideration when I’d purchased the apartment. Someone placing this here meant either my security had been compromised, or…

I picked it up, feeling the substantial weight of the cardstock. Expensive. The gold emblem caught the light, an ornate “SB” intertwined in a design that managed to suggest both elegance and something darker. No postage, no address. Just my name in metallic ink that gleamed under my fingertips.

I slid my finger under the flap, breaking the wax seal that I hadn’t initially noticed. Inside was a single card of the same heavyweight black stock, text printed in the same gold ink.

To: Ms. Mira Calder

You are cordially invited to Sanctum Black, where discretion meets pleasure without judgment. Your reputation for excellence has been noted by our selection committee. Should you choose to accept, present this invitation at 1158 Blackwood Avenue at 10 PM this evening.

Boundaries respected. Desires fulfilled.

Sanctum Black

Your privacy is our sacred covenant

HW George

Concierge

I turned the card over, looking for more information, but found only the same emblem from the envelope. Sanctum Black. I’d heard whispers about it in certain circles. Sanctum Black was an exclusive club where the elite could shed their public personas. Not exactly a sex club, but definitely not a simple social club either. The kind of place where people went when they wanted experiences they couldn’t get elsewhere, with the absolute certainty that what happened there would never leave its walls.

My analytical mind immediately began dissecting how my name had reached their “selection committee.” Who had recommended me? What did they know about me that made them think I’d be interested? And more importantly, who else might I encounter there?

 

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

Wanda on Goodreads

 

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