Death Before a Hookup

 

In a world ruled by power, desire can be deadly.

Death Before a Hookup

by Alicia Rice

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller

In the heart of two cities divided by rivalries, it unveils a compelling narrative of passion, ambition, and transformation.

 James, a steadfast leader striving for progress, faces the complex dynamics of a changing world as he partners with Evelleyne, a boss from a rival gang. Against an ongoing feud between the Northside Ryders and the River Syndicates, a symbol of new possibilities, the characters embark on a journey of self-discovery, secrets, adoration, and resilience. The flames of change burn brightly, forging alliances, shattering expectations, and ultimately illuminating the path to redemption.

Prepare for a tale of love, loyalty, and redemption set against conflict and transformation. As the characters navigate the complexities of their choices, the story explores the resilience of the human spirit and the indomitable power of love to endure even in the darkest times.

 

“The perfect enemies-to-lovers novel with Romeo and Juliet vibes. Gritty, emotional and utterly unputdownable!”

“Evelyne and James’ love story was beautifully made. I was torn apart by the tragic ending.”

 

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Where are you, baby? You know I hate waiting,” says Evelleyne, her breath briefly fogging the reflected outline of her bare shoulder on her phone's screen."

“I just got out of the shower. Give me about fifteen minutes, and I’ll be there,” said James.

“You could have waited on the shower, baby. You’ll be hot and sweaty as soon as I let you in the door.”

“Is that so? Well, let me hurry up then. Sounds like I’m going to have my work cut out for me tonight.”

“You have no idea.”

“Let me finish here. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Okay, baby. Be careful. No speeding tickets this time.”

“I can’t make any promises. You know I can’t wait to get to you, girl.”

“I know, baby, but I’m not going anywhere, so there’s no need to rush. Just know your girl is waiting on you—with nothing on.”

“See, that’s what makes me break the law getting to your house.”

Evelleyne laughs. “You’re so cute when you’re possessive.”

“Yeah, and I’m the luckiest man alive to have you in my life. I’m gone; see you in a few.”

“Okay, baby.”

Evelleyne sits on the window ledge, gazing out into the night. The moon is high, and its white light glistens on her voluptuous, tanned body. Her heart beats faster, and she can barely catch her breath as she tightens the grip on her cell phone.

James is rushing down the steps, ready to see his beloved. He hears a soft, shaky voice as he’s about to hit the “end call” button on his cell phone.

“I love you, James,” says Evelleyne.

“I’ll see you soon,” he shyly responds.

Evelleyne gazed at the night sky, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She knows James loves her, but he won't say it—he’s proved that. Still, she wants to hear it from his lips.

James hopped in his Chrysler 300. Though excited to see Evelleyne, he’s nervous before starting the car. His mind drifted through the chapters of his life, a journey marked by unexpected turns and profound transformations.

He thought back to the days when he rose through the ranks, becoming an underboss for the Northside Ryders. The choices, alliances forged, and conflicts navigated shaped him into a formidable figure in the city's underworld.

Meeting Evelleyne was a turning point. Her strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit drew him in. Love blossomed amidst the chaos, a beacon of light in the shadows of their tumultuous world. Together, they dared to dream of a different future.

 

Alicia Rice is a multi-genre author, leadership development strategist, and speaker whose work explores power, choice, resilience, and the human condition. She is the author of several compelling titles, including Historian of the Wasteland, a gripping dystopian series that challenges readers to examine what survives when systems collapse — and what should.

By day, Alicia serves as a Learning & Development leader, designing leadership programs that empower emerging and senior leaders to lead with courage, justice, and accountability. By night, she writes stories that explore generational trauma, moral conflict, and the quiet strength of those history often overlooks. Her work is deeply influenced by her grandmother’s encouragement, who nurtured her love of storytelling from a young age and instilled in her the belief that her voice mattered.

When she’s not writing or mentoring, Alicia is either gaming or building platforms that connect authors, leaders, and lifelong learners through purpose-driven dialogue

 

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Last Bite

 

A mouth-watering home run of a beach read where a newly widowed woman finds second chances through a funeral catering business and the magic of Chicago baseball.

Last Bite

by Amy S. Peele

Genre: Cozy Mystery

A mouth-watering home run of a beach read, this lighthearted romantic comedy featuring a newly widowed fortysomething takes the reader on a joyful romp through-out some of Chicago’s finest eateries—with a dash of Cubs baseball on the side.

In the heart of Chicago, forty-five-year-old Angie Sortino finds herself at a crossroads. Recently widowed, she discovers that her deceased husband, Vinnie, has left her penniless. Until his City pension can be cleared up, she’s on her own.

Angie has just taken a job at Chicago City Hall as a cleaning woman when her spirited twenty-two-year-old niece, Gina, and Gina’s best friend, Kim, approach her with the idea of starting a catering company targeting funeral parlors. Seeing a chance to reawaken her own culinary aspirations, Angie gets on board. As the three women embark on this new venture, they face the challenges of the catering business, from securing clients to perfecting their menu. Angie and Gina’s love for the Chicago Cubs adds a playful twist to their journey; they often find inspiration in the vibrant atmosphere of Wrigley Field. Gina’s youthful enthusiasm, meanwhile, contrasts with Angie’s cautious nature, leading to hilarious mishaps, unexpected romantic encounters, and heartfelt moments.

Through late-night brainstorming sessions and spontaneous cooking experiments, Angie begins to find her voice, both in the kitchen and in her life—and ultimately, with the support of a respected funeral director, Gina and Kim, and an unexpected new love interest, she learns to embrace her worth and pursue happiness.

 

"Last Bite is a deliciously layered novel that mixes humor, heart, and mystery in equal measure." —Chicago Book Review

 

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             The sky was blue, it was a warm late-September afternoon, and there was no better place to be as they walked across the street from Murphy’s into the ballpark. They had the best bleacher seats. Center field, perfect view of the field, and an excellent place to grab a few home run balls, if the stars were aligned. As they approached their seats, Kim stopped. “Wait a minute. Gina, do you see what I’m seeing? It’s Peggy’s girls from the kitchen.”

Gina looked past the girls and saw something that astonished her. There was Peggy sitting next to Ben, who stood up and waved.

“Uncle Ben, what the hell?”

“Hey, Gina, it’s a long story, but we’re all here to have fun and forget about our troubles, right, Peggy?”

Peggy growled, “Why not, can’t work today, schools are closed. Ben stopped by with tickets yesterday and I figured my crew needed a break after the poisoning incident.” She sat back down, grumbled some more, and took a sip of her beer. Gina walked over and hugged Ben and sat between him and Peggy.

“I am so sorry about the poisoning,” Gina said. “Angie got it all straightened out. It wasn’t us who did it. She can bring you up to speed after the game.”

“Good to hear. Sorry I was so mean to you, but it put me behind schedule,” Peggy said. “By the way, my niece is coming out from San Francisco tomorrow, loves baseball. Maybe we can take her to a Cubs game. She’s a private investigator and has a case here. I think you’d like her. She’s a lot of fun. She bats for Kim’s team.”

“What’s her name?” Gina asked.

“Jackie Larsen, she’s one fun-loving smart cookie. Her parents disowned her when she came out, but I told her she would always have a place in my heart and home,” Peggy said, and then turned to watch the players warm up. Gina went to sit with her mom, Angie, and Kim.

“That Ralph knows how to pick good seats,” Connie said.

“Vinnie and Ralph spent many a day in the bleachers,” Gina leaned over and remarked. “They could afford the fancier seats, but they said this is where the real fans were.”

Angie bought popcorn, peanuts, and beer for the crew, toasting, “Here’s to family and the Cubs.” They all raised their beers, toasted, and yelled, “Go, Cubs!”

The Cardinals took an early lead with two home runs in the top of the second, and the Cubs answered in the bottom of the fifth and tied the score. Baseball time was different for Angie. She had learned from Vinnie to put all her cares away and soak it all in, one pitch at a time, one hit at a time, one inning at a time. Today, of all days, she was doing just that, glancing at the field and then over at her family, including Thad and Daisy, knowing they would always get through anything as long as they were together. She laughed out loud when one of the lunch gals yelled at the ump, “That was a strike! Get some glasses!”

What a motley crew, Angie thought. At the top of the sixth, one of the ushers came over to where she was sitting. “Is there an Angie Sortino here?”

They all looked up. “Who wants to know?” Angie asked.

“We have a very special surprise for Angie. Are you Angie?”

“Depends. You’re not from the mayor’s office, are you?” Angie asked.

“No, I work for the Cubs.”

“Okay then, I’m Angie. What exactly is the surprise?”

“Not at liberty to say, but if you’d please follow me, you’ll know soon enough. All I can say is it must be your lucky day.” He gestured for Angie to follow him.

“Bring her back in one piece,” Connie called after.

“No worries, she’ll be safe and sound. Enjoy the rest of the game. Go, Cubs.”

Angie followed him through the park, her mind reeling. Where is he taking me? They navigated through all the fans, kids in tow, lines of people waiting for beer and dogs.

He took her on an elevator up several floors, and she noticed a sign pointing to the press boxes. They walked past them.

“Would you please take a seat, Angie?” said the escort. “I’ll be back to get you at the start of the seventh inning.” He pointed to a small area with a live TV monitor displaying the game and several chairs. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Why not? I’ll take a beer, please.”

The young man returned with a draft beer and a bag of peanuts. “Enjoy.”

Angie sipped her beer, cracked open peanuts, and watched the rest of the sixth inning. The game was tied. Fans were yelling as the Cubs took the field at the top of the seventh. She was deeply engaged in the game when the usher interrupted her.

“How are you doing?”

“Great, but I’d like to get back to my family. Time for the seventh-inning stretch.”

“You’ll be enjoying that in just a few minutes. A friend of yours has arranged something for you. I hope you brought your best singing voice.”

Singing voice? Angie thought, as the usher led her to a door marked “Announcer” and gently knocked. What the hell?

“Come in,” came a voice from within.

The usher opened the door and Pat Hughes, the announcer for the Cubs, glanced over. “Angie, you’re going to be singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with our guest celebrity.”

“What! Are you kidding me? Oh my God! This is a dream come true!”

“Come on in. We’re on in a few minutes.”

Angie stepped in and froze. There in front of her was Bill Murray—the Bill Murray, wearing his 2016 World Series T-shirt and hat, holding a microphone. “Hey, Angie. Nice to meet you. I was a friend of Vinnie’s—so sorry he’s gone.” He reached over

and gave her a warm embrace, saying, “He was a hell of a man, and there was no better Cubs fan.”

Angie was having an out-of-body experience, thoughts flooding through her mind. Is this real? How did this happen? I’m with Bill Murray.

Bill brought her right up front—where you could see the entire field—and handed her a microphone. “I know you know the words,” he said, smiling.

The Cubs announcer broke in, “And today we have our very own Bill Murray with a special guest, Angie Sortino, singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Bill jumped in, “A one—A two.” He glanced over at Angie and they both started singing.

“Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. I don’t care if I never get back!”

Angie gave it all she had, joy erupting from within her. She caught sight of her and Bill on the Jumbotron. As the camera scanned the crowd, everyone got up and sang, arm in arm. “So it’s root, root, root for the Cubbies . . .” The song ended, the crowd went wild, and Angie hugged Bill, smiling ear to ear.

“This was truly a dream come true.” She pointed at him with both of her index fingers. “Bill Murray. I sang with Bill Murray!”

Bill gave her a departing hug. “Take care, Angie. So nice to meet you after hearing about you from Vinnie for so many years.That man sure loved you.”

Amy S Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area, and now lives in Marin County in California. Having spent thirty five years working in the field of organ transplantation, she brings a fresh, knowledgable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.

In addition to killing people in her murder mysteries, she enjoys meditating, teaching yoga, swimming, and pursuing her spirituality by studying the teachings of Deepak Chopra. Amy invites you to her website www.amyspeele.com to learn more about her.

 

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Boys Night

Title: Boys Night Anthology

Authors: Yolanda Olson; Ally Vance; Emery LeeAnn; Ames Mills; Marie Ann and Nyla K.

Genre: M/M Dark Romance

Release Date: December 10, 2026

Cover Design: Pretty In Ink Creations

Legend tells us that Boys Don't Cry, but the truth is more Profound. It's not so split Down The Middle as some might think…

What happens when you become His To Take, and you're forced to Capitulate to the one you want to hate?

6 authors have come together to bring you Boys Night Anthology, a collection of M/M Dark Romance stories.

Featuring works by:

Yolanda Olson

Ally Vance

Emery LeeAnn

Ames Mills

Marie Ann

Nyla K.

Yolanda Olson

Ally Vance

Emery LeeAnn

Ames Mills

Marie Ann

Nyla K.

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The Commander's Truth

Title: The Commander's Truth

Series: Brothers in Blue

Author: K. Langston

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Second Chance Romance; Enemies-to-Lovers; He Falls First; Praise Kink; Forced Proximity; Workplace Romance; Found Family; Protective Alpha Hero

Release Date: March 12, 2026

 

My badge is on the line. So is my heart.

I never expected to see her again.

Not after she walked away from me all those years ago, leaving a hole where my heart used to be.

But fate has a twisted sense of humor.

Now she’s back.

The woman who shattered me.

And she’s been assigned to investigate the case that could destroy everything I’ve built.

I should be angry.

But instead, I’m drowning in memories I never buried deep enough.

The way she used to look at me.

The way I still ache for her.

The way I never stopped loving her.

Even when I tried.

As danger closes in and the truth unravels, we’re forced to trust each other again.

But trust is a dangerous thing.

Because I’m not just fighting for my badge anymore.

I’m fighting for the woman who broke me.

And praying that I’m strong enough to claim her for good.

Or finally let her go forever.

The harsh light above seems brighter. More severe. Maybe because I’m on the opposite side of the table. I’ve been inside this room countless times, but never for this reason, never in this chair. The knowledge makes me feel uneasy, but I remain calm.

Cool.

Leaning back in the chair, I try to force my muscles to relax, but when the door swings open and I see her, my calm demeanor goes straight out the fucking window.

“Good afternoon, Commander Cunningham.”

Her familiar voice sends a jolt through me.

“I’m Agent Karmen Ashford with Internal Affairs,” she states, displaying her badge for me to inspect. “This is Agent Roberto Ramirez.”

My heart pounds erratically as I grind my teeth, my entire body tense.

Is she trying to pretend we don’t know each other? As if we didn’t share a goddamn bed for a year. Like I haven’t been inside her in every way a man can be inside of a woman.

It’s been five years since we last laid eyes on each other. How long has she been working for IA Metro? Right underneath my goddamn nose?

She takes a seat in front of me while her partner occupies the chair in the corner. It’s obvious who the alpha is of the two, but she’s not the only alpha in this room.

After flipping open the file, she folds her hands in front of her, meeting my gaze head-on with those cold silver eyes. The same eyes that once looked up at me in complete submission. That once begged for my mercy, my tenderness. Eyes that stole my heart so she could crush it in her tiny little fist.

“Commander, we have reason to believe you’ve been stealing large amounts of fentanyl from the evidence locker and selling it back to the dealers on the street,” she says, raising an arched brow.

My mind is still spinning. Part of me wants to put an end to this now. If I reveal we know each other and that we were in a previous relationship, that is a direct conflict of interest.

She knows that.

What is her endgame? Why would she take this case, knowing it was me she’d be investigating?

I open my mouth to expose her, expose us, but the words stay lodged in my throat. Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrow my eyes at her.

I could start fires for what I once felt for this woman and burn down cities with the pain she left in her wake.

She shifts in her seat, darting her silver eyes from my intense glare, while the familiar scent of her perfume hijacks my senses, my cock twitching in response. The need to touch her is wreaking havoc on my self-control. My mouth waters, tasting the satisfaction I would get from having her bent over this desk, creamy ass exposed, and my handprint decorating her honey-gold skin.

Despite the contempt I feel for this woman, she still takes my breath away.

She's dressed in a black suit with a crisp white button-down, like the daily uniform she wore when we worked together. She’s feminine yet powerful. Strong and yielding. Dominant and submissive.

I wonder if she’s wearing something pretty and lacy underneath.

Fuck, I bet she’s wearing pink.

My favorite color on her.

She would be so cruel.

Her rich brown hair is pulled back in a tame ponytail, not a single strand out of place, and the square tortoise-frame glasses perched on her freckled nose only serve to irritate me more.

Why does she have to be so goddamn beautiful?

When I don’t respond, she asks, “Can you explain your digital fingerprint being used to gain access to the evidence locker?”

I shrug. “Someone must have cloned it.”

“Seems a little far-fetched, don’t you think, Commander?”

I grind my teeth so hard I feel like my jaw might crack. She knows I didn’t do this. She knows I’m being set up because she fucking knows me.

She’s trying to rattle me.

Push me.

Shred my precious control.

I remain still.

Composed.

She wants to play games.

Let’s fucking play.

K. Langston writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense, weaving emotionally charged stories filled with unforgettable characters, undeniable chemistry, and heart-pounding twists. Whether it's small-town charm, intense love affairs, or gripping suspense, her books deliver the perfect blend of heat, heart, and tension. When she's not writing, K. can be found in her garden, devouring books or baking homemade cookies with her two grandchildren.

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