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Salvation Teaser Tuesday

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Reckless Kings MC, Book 6

 

Motorcycle Club Romance

 

Date Published: July 25, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

 

Is it friendship or something more? I think I’m ready to find out.
Yulia — They call him Salvation, and that’s exactly what
he’s been for me. I was only sixteen when he swept me up into his arms
and carried me out of hell. Things were so bad, all I wanted was to die. He
and his club, the Reckless Kings, they saved me. Salvation’s never
touched me, even though we’re technically married, and he honestly has
enough on his plate already with a daughter who’s badly scarred from an
explosion. But we’ve been together for eleven years now, and the older I
get, the more I want our marriage to be real.

Salvation — Since the day Yulia came to live with me, I’ve not once
cheated on her. She’s legally my wife, and that’s all that
matters. Besides, my daughter, Clover, has kept me busy. Now Clover’s
nearly an adult and I’ve noticed the way Yulia looks at me when she
thinks I’m not paying attention. But can we have a real marriage when
we’ve been nothing but friends all these years? It’s too bad my
family has be to taken before I realize the answer to that question. Now
I’ll do whatever it takes to get Clover and Yulia back, and I’ll
send their kidnappers straight to hell.

Warning: Salvation is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations,
bad language, and violence. It can be read as a stand-alone, but the series
will be enjoyed more if read in order. This is a slow-burn romance with steamy
scenes. There’s no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA!

 

Salvation tablet

 

Excerpt

 

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Harley Wylde

 

 

Yulia

The wind whipped my hair across my face, stinging my eyes as I stood at
the edge of the school grounds. My heart pounded, each beat a reminder of the
choice before me. Memories flashed through my mind — cruel hands, mocking
laughter, endless fear. I closed my eyes, willing the images away.

This was it. The end. My fingers trembled as I gripped the knife tighter. Just
one cut and it would all be over. No more pain. No more shame. I took a shaky
breath. “Prosti menya, sestra,” I whispered. Forgive me, sister.

The blade glinted in the fading sunlight. So sharp. So final. I pressed it to
my wrist.

A roar split the air.

My eyes snapped open. In the distance, a motorcycle engine growled, growing
louder. Closer. I hesitated, the knife hovering above my skin. Who would come
here? Why now? The engine’s rumble filled my ears, drowning out the
frantic beating of my heart. Despite myself, I turned toward the sound.

A flicker of… something. Not quite hope. But curiosity. A momentary
distraction from the abyss. I lowered the knife, just slightly. My mind raced.
Should I wait? See who it was? Or finish what I’d started?

The motorcycle drew nearer. Any moment now, it would crest the hill. I bit my
lip, indecision paralyzing me. The wind continued to howl around me, urging me
forward. But that sound… it called to me. Promising… what?

I didn’t know.

For just a moment, my despair lifted. And in that moment, I chose to wait.

The motorcycle crested the hill, its rider a dark silhouette against the
blazing orange sky. My breath caught in my throat. He was massive, all broad
shoulders and muscled limbs, his leather cut emblazoned with a patch I
couldn’t quite make out.

He dismounted in one fluid motion, his boots hitting the ground with a heavy
thud
. My fingers tightened around the knife as he strode toward me, his pace
urgent but measured. “Easy now, darlin’,” he called out, his
voice a low rumble that carried on the wind. “Why don’t you put
that knife down?”

I shook my head, taking a step back. “Stay away,” I warned.
“I don’t know you.”

He slowed his approach, hands raised placatingly. “Name’s Hawk.
I’m with the Reckless Kings. I was sent here to help. A few of my
brothers are waiting nearby to make sure we don’t run into
trouble.”

My mind reeled. The Reckless Kings? How did they know? Why would they care?
“No one can help,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.
“It’s too late.”

Hawk took another careful step forward. “It’s never too late,
sweetheart. Trust me on that.”

I laughed, a bitter sound that surprised even me. “Trust? I don’t
even know what that means anymore.”

His gaze met mine. “Then let me show you. Just… put the knife
down. Please.”

My hand trembled. Part of me wanted to believe him, to grasp at this lifeline
he was offering. But the fear, the pain of the past years, it all threatened
to drown me. “I can’t,” I choked out. “You don’t
understand what he did to me.”

Hawk’s expression softened. “Maybe not exactly. But I’ve
seen enough pain in this world to recognize it. You’re not alone, Yulia.
Not anymore.”

My name on his lips startled me. How did he know? Who sent him?

As if sensing my thoughts, he added, “Your sister’s worried sick.
She asked us to find you.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “Oksana?”

Hawk nodded. “She loves you. Let us help. Let me take you somewhere
safe.”

The knife slipped in my grasp, my resolve wavering… The knife clattered
to the ground, and my legs gave out. I crumpled, expecting to hit the cold
earth. Instead, strong arms caught me, steadying me against a broad chest.

“I’ve got you,” Hawk murmured, his voice a low rumble.
“You’re safe now.”

I trembled, my body wracked with silent sobs. Years of pent-up fear and pain
poured out of me as Hawk held me, his grip firm but gentle. “Can you
walk?” he asked after a moment.

I nodded weakly, not trusting my voice. Hawk kept an arm around me as he
guided me toward his motorcycle. The machine loomed before us, all gleaming
chrome and sleek lines. “Ever ridden before?” Hawk asked, swinging
his leg over the seat.

I shook my head, eyeing the bike warily. “Nyet… no.”

He extended his hand. “First time for everything. Hold on tight,
okay?”

With shaking fingers, I grasped his hand and climbed on behind him. The
leather of his cut was smooth under my palms as I wrapped my arms around his
waist. I heard three more motorcycles and noticed the men were also from the
Reckless Kings.

“Ready?” Hawk called over his shoulder.

“Da,” I whispered, tightening my grip.

The engine roared to life, vibrating through my entire body. We took off, the
world blurring around us as we sped away from the school grounds. Away from my
nightmares.

I pressed my face against Hawk’s back, the wind whipping my hair. Part
of me still couldn’t believe this was real. That I was escaping. That
someone had come for me. “Where are we going?” I shouted over the
engine’s rumble.

“Somewhere safe,” Hawk called back. “Our compound.
You’ll be protected there.”

Protected. The word sent a shiver through me — of fear or hope, I
wasn’t sure.

As we rode into the gathering darkness, I clung to Hawk, to this stranger
who’d become my unexpected savior. My mind raced with questions, with
doubts. But for now, I let the roar of the engine drown out my thoughts,
focusing only on the road ahead and the promise of safety it held.

Tears stung my eyes, instantly whisked away by the biting wind. My chest ached
with each ragged breath, emotions churning like a storm inside me. Gratitude
and terror warred for dominance.

“You okay back there?” Hawk’s voice barely reached me over
the engine’s roar.

I nodded against his back, not trusting my voice. My fingers dug into the
leather of his cut, anchoring me to this surreal moment.

 

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

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

 

 

 

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Illusionist Teaser

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Illusionist cover

 

A Sean McPherson Novel, Book 5

Mystery/Thriller/Private Investigator

 

Date Published: 04-15-2025

 

Publisher:
SparkPress

 

 

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A contemporary crime thriller perfect for Louise Penny and Robert Dugoni fans,
Illusionist presents PI McPherson with an impossible dilemma: kill an author
at a writing retreat in the Pacific Northwest, or let a college student
die.

When an illusionist arrives at Pines & Quill, one of the
retreat’s owners vanishes—right in front of witnesses who see
nothing. Meanwhile, crime boss Georgio Gambino tightens his grip, blackmailing
a writer into murder and framing Sean McPherson. His threat is clear: obey, or
your daughter dies.
As McPherson investigates, he uncovers a brewing
power struggle—Carmine Fiore, Gambino’s second-in-command, is
staging a coup. While Gambino’s network traffics drugs, weapons, and
humans, Fiore manipulates the Sureños gang, planting evidence to shift
blame.
Desperate to turn the tide, McPherson seeks a dangerous alliance.
But when deception is the game, only illusion can outmaneuver the truth.
Enlisting the retreat’s eclectic writers—including a NASCAR
driver, a triathlete, a house-flipping architect, and a magician with secrets
of her own—McPherson sets the stage for the ultimate trick: survival.

 

Excerpt

 

Sean “Mick” McPherson drives the Pines & Quill van to
Bellingham International Airport. The last time I went to the airport was to
drop off the September writers in residence who barely lived to tell about
their stay.

His thoughts home in on Gambino, head of a
trifecta-based crime family—Seattle, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
Mick tightens his grip on the steering wheel. You learned the hard way that
Gambino’s reach is long and elusive. That his minions infiltrate even
the most inaccessible places to do his bidding, so stay on your A game.

Last month, over the Labor Day weekend, Emma, Mick’s pregnant
wife, and Carly and Brianna, the daughters of one of his best friends, Joe
Bingham, were abducted and held hostage in a secluded cabin on Mount Baker by
Gambino’s thugs. Joe, a Bellingham homicide detective, took a bullet in
his right shoulder, saving his daughters.
After the
incident, local police chief Bruce Simms referred to him, Joe, and Rafferty,
Mick’s other best friend, as “The three musketeers” at a
press conference. He went on to say, “Though nontraditional—an
ex-cop turned PI, a homicide detective, and an FBI special agent—they
accomplish what no others do; they solve crimes and put bad guys behind bars.
Consistently.
Mick smiles at what Simms didn’t
say to the press—they let me assist in criminal investigations because,
unlike Rafferty and Joe, I have fewer restrictions, protocols, and no red tape
as a PI.

 

About the Author

Laurie Buchanan

A blend of Dr. Doolittle, Nanny McPhee, and
a type-A Buddhist, Laurie Buchanan is an active listener, observer of details,
payer of attention, reader and writer of books, kindness enthusiast, red
licorice aficionado, and lover of the Oxford comma.

As a novelist,
photographer, and voracious reader, she never travels without three
essentials—a laptop, a camera, and a book.

Growing up, she dreamed
of being a magician, an international spy, and a mad scientist. There’s
still time!

Her writing studio is the hayloft of a historic carriage
house in the Pacific Northwest, where creativity thrives. Her husband, Len, a
private pilot, and Henry, their not-so-standard Standard Poodle, join her on
daily walks. She always carries a camera because sometimes, the best word
choice is a picture.

A journey that left an indelible imprint on her was
a 20-day, 211-mile trek across the majestic landscapes of Scotland. She, her
husband, and their son hiked from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, with
the pinnacle being the climb of Ben Nevis at the midpoint of their adventure,
the highest point in the British Isles.

“My writing goal is simple: to
leave you wanting more.” —Laurie Buchanan

 

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Xavier Teaser Tuesday

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Xavier cover

 

Kiss of Death MC

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: July 18, 2025

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Xavier may be an ex-con, but he’s strong, protective, and totally
sexy. He’s my hero.

 

Tillie: At the lowest time in my life, I realize I might have gained my very
own guardian angel. I never saw Xavier as more than a friend, but then he went
to prison for me. I’ll never forget his sacrifice. He’s the one
person I can tell anything, the one person I trust above all else. He’s
also the man I’ve built up in my little fantasy world as being the
perfect husband. Only problem is, I forgot he’s still a killer. How can
I be with a man who’s capable of taking a life? I’m torn between
my growing feelings for him and my fear of what it means to love a man like
Xavier.

Xavier: Did I have to kill the man who beat Tillie? No. But I’m headed
to prison anyway, so why not get an added bonus? Tillie defended me to anyone
who would listen, but I still never expected she’d be almost religious
in coming to see me every Saturday. I also didn’t expect to fall in love
with the beautiful, spirited woman. Seeing her smile now is worth the extra
time I’m spending away from my brothers in Kiss of Death and the comfort
of home. Unfortunately, my little Tillie is a magnet for trouble. Good thing
she has me to protect her, because there is nothing I won’t do for
Tillie. Nothing. If I have to kill for her again, so be it. Anyone who touches
her is dead. May God have mercy, because I won’t.


Warning: Adult situations, graphic language, and violence, which may be a
trigger for some readers.

 

 

Xavier tablet

EXCERPT

 

Xavier

“Hey, Sugar.” The one bright spot in my life was Tillie St.
Martin. Ironic because the night I found her was in the middle of the worst
damned storm I’d ever tried to drive through. That was also the night
that changed mine and Tillie’s lives forever.

I think I had a weird sort of connection with her from the second she looked
at me over her shoulder, soaked to the skin in ripped and blood-stained
clothing, with an angry-looking bruise forming on her left cheek. She was
walking down a two-lane country road at one in the morning. Nothing good
happens at one in the morning if you’re forced to walk on a deserted
road in the middle of a storm.

“I did it, Xave!” She grinned brightly at me through the
bulletproof glass. She had the wall phone to her ear and looked so happy my
heart was breaking.

Then I frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re not moving to San Diego
with that creep you were telling me about last month, are you?”

“What?” She jerked back, a scowl on her face. “You honestly
think I’m that stupid?”

I had a moment of panic. Clearly, I’d fucked up. I just wasn’t
sure how. “Of course, you’re not stupid!” I rubbed my hand
over the back of my neck. “But I’m not sure what I said to make
you think I’d think you were stupid?” She raised her eyebrows.
“OK, clearly, we need to start over.”

Then she broke out into giggles. “You’re so cute when you think
I’m irritated at you.”

“I kinda thought I’d said something to thoroughly piss you
off.”

“Pfft.” She waved away my words. “I could never be pissed at
you. You’re my hero after all.”

“Aww, Tillie. You have no idea… Seeing you smile, how much
happier you look now… You kind of gave me a whole new outlook on
life.”

“Oh?” She was still smiling but she looked genuinely curious. Not
like she was humoring me. “What’s that?”

“Sometimes, the outcome is worth the fuckin’ consequence.” I
grumbled out the words, but it was the fucking truth. Yes, I was in prison.
Would I rather be on the outside with my brothers? Sure. But I could pull my
weight with the club in prison same as I could out. Given that I had some good
connections here in Terre Haute, I figured I’d make the best of a bad
situation. Like I said, some things were just worth the cost.

Tillie’s face softened and she put her palm against the window. I put
mine over hers against the glass. I’d never actually touched her skin,
but I could imagine how her hand would entwine with mine. She was twenty-three
years old. Way to fucking young for me when compared to my thirty-eight years,
but her life experiences made her seem older sometimes.

“You ended my nightmare, Xavier. I will never take that for granted.
I’d be dead if it weren’t for you.”

“Only thing I ever want from you is for you to be happy. You never have
to come back here, Tillie. I know this is a scary place sometimes. But if you
do come by occasionally, I hope you always have a smile this bright on your
face.” That got me another beautiful smile, but also a trembling chin
and two tears from her pale green eyes. “So. If you’re not moving
to San Diego with Dipshit, what’s got you all smiles, Sugar?”

She gave a watery laugh as she swiped at her tears. “I did it.”

“Well, yeah, you said that.” I grinned, trying not to chuckle but
failing miserably. “Gonna have to give me an antecedent to go with your
pronoun, baby.”

That really got an amused laugh from her. “Really? Antecedent?”

“Hey. You’re the author between the two of us. You should know
those kinds of words, what they mean, and how to avoid making me say
them.”

“Fine. It refers to buying a house.” She bounced in her seat
excitedly.

I grinned. “You’ll have to show me pictures when you get moved
in.”

“Oh, I will.” Her grin got even wider. “Want to know the
best part?”

“What’s that, sweetheart?”

“I’m moving to Terre Haute.”

OK, this was unexpected. She lived an hour and a half away but had never
mentioned she was moving, let alone anywhere close by. “Honey, why would
you move to Terre Haute?”

“Two reasons.” She straightened, her smile still really wide.
“First, Terre Haute has way more affordable housing. I found a house for
half the price in Terre Haute than I could find in Indianapolis.”

“I could see that.” I tried to keep a lighthearted expression on
my face, but I could tell something was up. “But why get a place of your
own at all? I thought you were happy to stay with your folks.”

“Well, that’s the second reason.” She still smiled and still
seemed happy, but also… sad? Scared?

“Tillie…” I gave her a stern look, knowing something was
off. Every instinct in my body was now screaming at me. Not because I thought
she was in danger. Because, I knew with every fiber of my being, someone had
hurt her feelings. And that simply was not acceptable. “What.
Happened?”

 

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double
life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife
by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in
spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable
heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful
ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are
speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined
with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a
sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband
with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for
preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts
(which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with
Marteeka’s latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her
website. Don’t forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you
with a potpourri of Teeka’s beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph
events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

 

Author Contact Links

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook

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

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Burn Teaser Tuesday

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Gay Dark Fantasy, MPreg, Vampire Romance

Date Published: July 11, 2025

 

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Humans and vamps were never meant to be mates, but an accidental meeting
changes everything.

Cam Sharpe is just trying to make ends meet. Living in the city can easily
break the bank, but that’s where the jobs are. It’s also where
crime runs rampant. One night, he finds himself in the wrong place at the
wrong time, putting him in the crosshairs of the city’s ruling vampire
coven.

Nikolai Hart loves his job — maybe a little too much. When hunting a rogue
proves to be a pain in the ass, he’s the one House Saridan brings in to
find the unfortunate soul. The latest job, however, has hit a snag: a mortal
has witnessed everything.

 

Burn tablet

 

EXCERPT

 

Cameron

I hated living in the city. There were too many people, most of whom
couldn’t drive worth a damn. I barely managed to dodge a car that
threatened to sideswipe me. I thought the asshole driver shouted something,
but I just tossed the man a one-fingered salute. Rain pelted the city, which
made deliveries a bit more complicated, especially on a bicycle. Still, the
bike afforded me the chance to make it into tight spots a car could not.
Traffic was a bitch, but that was city life. I’d been here for three
years now and had managed to escape the need for a car. The exercise was good,
at any rate.

I reached the towering apartment building and secured my bike to a lamppost.
The expressionless doorman stood at the front. Dressed in a black tux,
complete with white gloves, he fit right in with the building’s
occupants.

Once inside, I flashed my badge hanging on its lanyard to the guard behind the
desk and continued toward the elevators. A few well-dressed residents gave me
a bit of the good ol’ side-eye, but I ignored them. Hell, I’d
probably delivered dinner to them half a million times.

The elevator doors opened, and I held it for the others. When they
didn’t move to enter, I shrugged and stepped inside, letting the doors
close before they could change their haughty minds. I watched the display tick
through the floor numbers until it reached the seventh floor. As soon as I
exited, I heard music.

Down the hall, an apartment door opened, and a half-naked man waved. I met him
and handed over the food.

“Wanna join?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Thanks, man, but I can’t. Still a
few more hours before I can officially ‘clock out’ for the
night.”

“You clock out?”

“Not really. I set my own hours, but this pays the bills, so, yeah, set
times and all.”

“Ah.”

Shouts from inside cut the chat short. “Well, thanks!” the guy
said, holding up the bag.

“No problem.”

Alone in the hall, I went back to the elevators. Thank the gods the tips were
included in the app when ordering.

Back down on the street, I sighed. I wished I could stop for the night. I was
tired, utterly sick of the damn rain, and hadn’t eaten in several hours.
The sun had already set enough to make the streetlights come on along the
sidewalks. I rolled the bike a few feet away from the lingering crowd and
headed off to my next pick-up.

People swarmed the streets, most of them club hoppers. I’d done that
years ago but had outgrown it. Random hook-ups in dark corners no longer
satisfied me, but in a city this big, I wasn’t sure I’d ever find
anyone who would. Most of the people I’d met so far were superficial and
vain, perfectly content to spend a night getting laid by one person before
moving on to the next.

An order came in, and the GPS piped up to let me know there was a shortcut to
the restaurant. Happy to avoid the crowd, I turned down the alley the GPS
designated. I ignored the few slumped figures along both sides. I’d
learned the hard way a couple of years ago after a mugging not to carry cash.
Now I only carried my ID, keys, phone, and a trusty can of mace.

The end of the alley branched left and right. The GPS told me to go left. Just
as I started that way, commotion to the right startled me.

A tall, black-clad figure landed feet-first onto the wet pavement and grabbed
a man from the ground. The man choked and struggled as the stranger spoke,
voice low enough that I couldn’t hear what was said. Whatever it was,
though, seemed to terrify the man he held captive.

The stranger growled — literally growled — and tore the man’s throat
wide open with his fucking teeth.

I nearly wrecked the bike trying to get away. I pedaled as fast as my legs
could, and the burn was almost too much. I reached the Chinese restaurant and
stuck as close to the building as possible. After a few seconds of struggling
to catch my breath, I locked my bike to a lamppost before heading inside.

I had zero doubt that I’d just seen a vampire executing someone. Vamps
weren’t unknown, but they tended to keep to themselves. They also
weren’t anything like what stories and movies portrayed them to be. Real
vampires weren’t undead; they were an entirely different species.
Stronger, faster, and far more deadly than any human could ever dream of
being.

Safe in the restaurant, I shot a quick glance back out the door. Whatever
I’d just witnessed wasn’t my business. Not like cops would do shit
anyway. Vamps governed themselves, and the police were scared shitless of
them.

Pushing it out of my mind for now, I shuddered and headed to the counter. Ten
minutes later, I was on my way to the drop-off point. Despite needing the
money, I ended my shift after handing over the food. Just before I left the
area, though, I caught sight of the stranger from the alley. Those eyes locked
onto mine.

Hopping onto the bike, I made a beeline for my tiny efficiency apartment. It
wasn’t much, but it had a wonderfully huge deadbolt on the door.

I leaned back against the door as soon as I locked it. Eyes closed, I tried to
get rid of the images from the alley. It wasn’t the first crime
I’d seen in this damned city, but it was definitely the first time a
vampire had been involved. At least that I knew of, at any rate.

“Get a grip, Cam,” I muttered. “Not the first, won’t
be the last.”

I pushed off the door and tossed my keys onto the narrow bar separating the
kitchenette from the living area. I couldn’t even call it an actual
room, really. The only true room was the bathroom, and even that was about the
size of a small walk-in closet. Overall, the place wasn’t much, but it
was home and, to be honest, all I could afford.

Before I could contemplate dinner or a shower, my grumbling stomach made up
its own mind. A quick glance in the fridge, and then the freezer, reminded me
that I needed to hit the store down the block sooner rather than later. I
didn’t cook, despite knowing how to, since it was just me here. Most of
my meals tended to be sandwiches or frozen dinners, or, if money allowed,
something quick while I was working. Tonight, though, peanut butter and jelly
would have to do.

A few minutes later, I settled onto the futon that doubled as my bed and
watched the news on my only splurge: a smart TV. I nibbled on my meager dinner
as one report after another went on. I popped the last bite into my mouth,
only to nearly choke on it.

The same dark-clad figure I’d seen in the alley was positioned behind
one of the head vamps in the city during a news conference that, according to
the info at the bottom of the screen, occurred earlier today. The muscle-bound
watchdog stood ready to spring to action at the slightest hint of trouble.

Pitch black hair hung over broad shoulders, and the man’s
five-o’clock shadow covered a stern, tight jawline. Eyes that looked
almost as black as his hair seemed to scan the entire room. Though he kept his
hands behind him, I could imagine those strong arms tensing. And he was tall.
Jesus, he was fucking tall. Even more than the vampire in front of him. A
morbid desire to stare up into those insanely dark eyes swept through me.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Bad thoughts. Bad thoughts.
Vamps are fucking trouble.”

I changed the channel and found a nature documentary instead. Maybe watching
meerkats would cleanse my brain of insane ideas like wanting to unwrap all
those muscles.

Gods, I was nuts.

 

About the Author

Mychael Black has been writing professionally since 2005. He writes gay
romance and erotica, but also het romance as Carys Seraphine and queer fantasy
as Katherine Cook.

He’s an avid PC gamer with a love for RPGs, a horror fanatic, and a fantasy
nut. He also has a weakness for anything relating to skulls, dogs, and
Spongebob Squarepants.

Mychael lives on the Eastern Shore of the US with his family. He loves to hear
from readers, be it via email or Facebook.

 

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Your Aging Body Teaser

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and how to care for it
Nonfiction / Aging / Self-Help

Date Published: 06-12-2025

Publisher: The Woodtick Press

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Written in understandable language, this book describes the ways in
which our body changes with age and outlines some practical ways to counter
many of these changes. It begins by discussing the aging process in general
terms and why some people seem much younger than others of the same
chronological age. After a presentation of general characteristics of the
aging body, subsequent chapters focus on what lies behind the aging of
specific parts of the body and how the reader can counteract or slow down the
aging process through lifestyle changes. The text illustrates how some
seemingly quite different aging changes, for example skin wrinkles and high
blood pressure, are due to very similar underlying mechanisms. Although not
focusing on disease, the book deals with a number of conditions, e.g.,
hypertension, arthritis, Type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, which
affect many older adults. A concluding chapter pulls together many of the
details presented earlier in the book and offers some practical advice for
navigating the aging process.

As both a professional anatomist and a gerontologist, the author is well
qualified to write a book on the aging body. Forty years as a professor at the
University of Michigan Medical School, he served as Chairman of the Department
of Anatomy and Cell Biology and also Director of the Institute of Gerontology.
For several decades he conducted research on the aging of muscle. He is a
past-president of the American Association of Anatomists and of the
Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairpersons.

 

Excerpt
 

 

How Do We Keep Our Balance?

 

Our body is never completely stable. Even while standing still, our body
sways ever so slightly. Usually we don’t even notice it. The main reason is
that we constantly make tiny un-noticed corrections to our stance that keep
our body in a stable upright condition. If we are walking and our foot hits a
snag of some sort, one of our legs automatically kicks out and our arms spread
to counteract the forward lurching of our body. If we are lucky, that action
is enough to correct the stumble and we continue walking. If we are unlucky,
we fall.

Keeping our balance involves a complex dance among several systems in our
body. Most important are 1) a component of our inner ear, called the
vestibular system; 2) our visual system; and 3) a large batch of sensory
nerves that make up what is called the proprioceptive system. These three
systems all send messages to the brain, which sorts them out and then sends
appropriate messages to a variety of muscles throughout the body, telling them
to adjust their individual contractions in a manner that keeps our body in a
stable position.

 

 

About the Author

 Bruce Carlson

 Bruce Carlson has had a long and varied career in a number of fields. As an
undergraduate student at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, he majored in
biology, languages and chemistry. As a prelude to becoming a fish biologist,
he worked for the Minnesota Conservation Department (now DNR) as an aquatic
biologist during summers except for one when he conducted research at the
University of Georgia Marine Laboratory on Sapelo Island, Georgia. He entered
a program in ichthyology at Cornell University, but became fascinated with the
phenomenon of regeneration. After receiving an MS from Cornell, he entered the
MD-PhD program at the University of Minnesota where he conducted research on
limb regeneration in salamanders.

In 1966 he joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy at the University
of Michigan Medical School and became Chairman of the Department and later,
Director of the Institute of Gerontology. He taught microscopic anatomy and
human embryology and received several major awards for his teaching. His
research on regeneration, embryology and muscle biology led him to live for
extended periods in five countries – The USSR, Czechoslovakia, the
Netherlands, Finland and New Zealand. A prolific writer, he has written over
200 articles and chapters in scientific publications, has edited 15 symposium
articles and translations, and he has written twenty books on a variety of
topics.

Bruce is an avid fisherman, who is on the water well over 100 days per year,
either night-fishing for walleyes or fly fishing for smallmouth bass in
northern Minnesota. He has also taken many trips to New Zealand, his favorite
country, to fish for trout in a remote lake surrounded by snow-capped
mountains. For many years he wrote articles for several national fishing
magazines. The main theme was that the more you understand the biology of the
fish you are trying tocatch, the better will be your results.

Since retirement in 2006, Bruce has reverted to his scientific childhood and
has again taken up work on fish and lake biology. In addition to weekly
collections of data about the lake by his cabin, he has directed a ten-year
study on the growth of northern pike on a nearby lake and has spent hundreds
of hours taking underwater videos in northern lakes. This activity has led to
his writing two popular books on lake biology and one on aquatic invasive
species.

In addition to his outdoor work, Bruce has maintained an active professional
writing schedule, with seven editions of his book “Human Embryology and
Developmental Biology” and other books on regeneration, the human body
and muscle biology. His work in the area of embryology has led him into expert
witness work in that area and writing a new book on the abortion controversy
– “The Abortion Controversy – An Embryologist’s
Perspective.” His background in anatomy and the biology of aging has him
thinking about writing a new book on understanding the aging body.

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