Apologies if the post title triggers a Loving Spoonful earworm!

It’s Midsummer and I’ve been thinking a lot about magical stories.
Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Romantasy, not to mention all the Star Wars-type stories. Have you read any? Do you have a preference?
My daughter is currently working her way through Rebecca Yarros’ Romantasy series. With a busy mom’s schedule, it’s been a slow go snatching time to read those lo-o-ng books.
Being an anglophile and writer of Regency-set romance, I like a familiar fantasy world, like Regency-era England, albeit populated with magical creatures and occurrences.
His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik, is a speculative fiction story with talking dragons who fight for their respective armies in the Napoleonic wars. Not a romance, but fascinating and well-done. Another book I loved is Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett. The story world is not Regency England, but there is a romance angle and there are lots of magical beings.
Among my Regency romance writer friends, Barbara Monajem has some beautiful stories with ghosts and paranormal creatures; Meara Platt has a Regency Dragon Shifter series; and Jude Knight has just launched Unexpected Magic, the first book in an alternative Regency world Romantasy series.

Precognition has played a role in my Macbeth series, but this fall I’ll be releasing my first actual ghost story, The Duke, the Diamond, and the Ghastly Ghoul, appearing in Moonlight Madness, a Bluestocking Belles Collection. I’ll tell you more about that in my September post here.
There’s more magic coming from the authors of the Bluestocking Belles. We’ve launched a multi-author series called Forevers in Fenwick, a stand-alone romance arriving each month (except for the months when we release a collection of stories). All of the stories take place in the fictional town of Fenwick on Sea, which was the setting for the Storm & Shelter collection from the Belles. And there’s magic, or at least a rumor of it: a fae blessing upon the well water leads to finding one’s true love.
The talented Elizabeth Donne starts off the series with The Legend Begins.

After this year’s Moonlight Madness collection, the Belles have more stories coming in June 2027, all set in a magical part of England, the Lake District. I’ll tell you more about that later in the year.
What’s your preference? Do you have a recommendation? Tell me about it in the comments!
2 2 Read more

If you live in a part of the country that experienced a horrible and very snowy winter, I hope that spring has come your way and that all that white stuff will soon be melted. Unless of course you loved sitting inside by a warm fire drinking hot chocolate and reading books.
Speaking of books…
This weekend 450 readers and authors have gathered in Las Vegas for Book Lovers Con at the Flamingo Hotel.
As this blog posts, I’m getting ready to sign books at the BLC Bookfest. But as I write this post, the conference hasn’t started.
Do you like book signings? I’m too much of an introvert to not find them challenging. I much prefer hobnobbing casually with readers at the conference social events to sitting behind a table that (in my mind) screams “buy my books”. Authors and readers out there, what do you think?
For this conference, I’m bringing just a handful of print books for sale, and trying another author friend’s strategy for ebook sales. Three of my series starters are on sale for 99 cents. Interested readers can scan a QR code for purchase–a savings for them, plus no extra print books for them to cart home.
If you’re in or near Las Vegas, join us for the Bookfest from 10 am to 1 pm, and be sure to stop by my table and say hello, no purchase required!
If you can’t make it, you can still take advantage of these deals! (sale runs through April 30th)

Book One, Sons of the Spy Lord Series
For a chance at true freedom, a spy’s daughter dodges an arranged marriage to an earl’s illegitimate son and seeks the fortune left by her inscrutable father. When her quest draws a villain’s threat, the only person she can trust is the war-weary soldier she doesn’t want to marry—but can’t seem to resist.
Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/MarryingMrGibson

Book One, The Macbeth Series
Plagued by memories of war and visions of coming battle, a Scottish Baron meets the daughter he denied was his, and his only true love—the wife he divorced. He soon discovers that the jealous enemy who drove them apart has resurfaced, more treacherous than ever. When his lady and daughter fall into a vengeful trap, can he reach them in time?
Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/FatedHeartsbyAlinaKField

The Duke She Despised
Book One, The Upstart Christmas Brides Series
Hiding her true identity, a young vicar’s widow takes a position as housekeeper in a remote Scottish castle at Christmas for a new duke who years ago sabotaged her chance for happiness. She quickly falls for the duke’s charming but not very competent factor, not knowing that he’s hiding something also—he’s the duke she despised!
Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/TheDukeSheDespised
I’ll let you know in future posts how my plan works out!
Until next time, happy reading!
Image credit (girl reading): Depositphotos.com
0 0 Read moreHappy holidays, and Happy New Year! I’m back for another Quarter Days post.
First things first: I know that the use of AI is a controversial topic among authors and other creators. I’m not one of the folks who use it to plot, write, edit, or create book covers or audiobooks.
As we enter the most uplifting time of the year, I hope this season brings you joy, renewed inspiration, and continued success as you craft elegant, emotionally rich historical romances that captivate devoted readers. After reviewing Her Impeccable Scoundrel, [emphasis mine] I was struck by its refined tension, nuanced character development, and the deeply human struggle between duty, trust, and long-buried emotion. Blythe’s fight to reclaim her reputation and protect her inheritance combined with Graeme’s complex return, carrying both guilt and longing creates an irresistible Regency narrative filled with redemption, vulnerability, and slow-burning romance. It is exactly the kind of elegant, emotionally resonant story our seasonal campaign aims to highlight.
(Note that there is a seasonal campaign coming up, for which payment by author will likely be required.)
Release day for Her Impeccable Scoundrel was November 18th. Hmm, how did the AI bot read it before sending this message?
No doubt you authors reading here have received messages like this from book clubs, famous authors, marketers and unsolicited reviewers. If you haven’t heard of this new scam, Writer Beware has several posts on the topic.
It’s been a busy few months with new releases, two fun projects with the Bluestocking Belles, plus a full length novel in the Wicked Widows League multi-author series.

Release Day, October 31, 2025
Travel, houseparties, smugglers, spies, a ghost–and a mysterious highwayman. Who is the infamous Captain Moonlight? And how many lives will he change–for good or for ill?
It’s the autumn of 1817 and Sir Peter Somerville and his lady are hosting a house party at their estate near Brighton, while a pesky highwayman plagues the surrounding byways.
Includes my novella, Sir Westcott Steals a Heart.
Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mqx0W6
Release Day, November 18, 2025

A widowed countess emerges from her year of mourning battling the dark legacy of her husband and dreading the arrival of the straitlaced scoundrel whose interference years earlier led to her unhappy marriage, a young man who was once her friend: her late husband’s heir.
Called back to England to take up his late cousin’s title, diplomat Graeme Blatchfield is eager to see his cousin’s widow and learn for himself whether the rumors about the woman he once held a childish infatuation for are true. Forced by matters of the estate to spend time together, he soon discovers the vulnerable and lonely woman underneath the society mask. Can he get her to forgive him—and more?
Buy Link: https://books2read.com/HerImpeccableScoundrel
Release Day December 20, 2025

Just in time for the holidays, seven charming stories of romance from award-winning and best-selling authors:
Includes my novella, Lady Loughton’s Last Wager
Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/mvRGPj
I’m back with another Quarter Days post!

The Bluestocking Belles and Friends have put together a collection of interrelated stories set near Brighton, England in 1817, and what fun we had researching and developing these tales. From the Devil’s Dyke to Brighton, love and adventure are in the air.

When Principal Officer Robert Pierce, of the Bow Street Magistrate Court sets out on the Brighton road he encounters more than the notorious thief he’s hunting:
From the casebook of Robert Pierce
It seems that I am off to the seaside. Larcenous Lucy, as some of the wits here at
the Office have taken to calling her, is working the London to Brighton road.
I’ve been told to look into a highwayman problem while I am there. There’s
someone plaguing both the main highway and some of the lesser roads. The local
dignitaries have posted a reward, so that would be a nice bonus.
My colleagues have also been joking that smugglers and ghosts abound in the
region, and that I might collect some of those while I am there. I told them, I
shall leave the smugglers to the excise officers and ghosts to the duly authorized
ministers of the church.
Travel, houseparties, smugglers, spies, a ghost–and a mysterious highwayman. Who is the infamous Captain Moonlight? And how many lives will he change–for good or for ill?
It’s the autumn of 1817 and Sir Peter Somerville and his lady are hosting a house party at their estate near Brighton, while a pesky highwayman plagues the surrounding byways.
Love’s Perilous Road features stories by Jude Knight, Sherry Ewing, Carolyn Warfield, Cerise Deland, Rue Allyn, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, Alina K. Field, and friends of the Bluestocking Belles Mary Lancaster, Meara Platt, and Barbara Monajem.
My contribution to the collection is Sir Westcott Steals a Heart
Sir Westcott Twisden didn’t know he wanted to marry until the tallest lady he’d ever met crossed his path. Unfortunately, the lady in question shrugs off his overtures. Curious when a local smuggler shows up to visit her, Wes follows her into trouble.
Sybil Dunsford will do almost anything to protect her brothers and their home, even disguise herself as one of her brothers to fend off demands from the local smuggling boss who holds her mortgage. But when her night of shifting contraband goes awry, and Sir Westcott appears to rescue her, they’re locked in together. Will romance follow?
Pre-order your copy here: https://books2read.com/u/mqx0W6

Welcome to my Quarter Day’s post!
If you’re a fan of A Slice of Orange, I have to assume you love books and you love reading. How did your romance with books get started? This topic came up in a recent discussion in the Belles Brigade Facebook Group.
My first book binge was the Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, somewhat relatable for me, being a Midwestern girl whose grandparents lived on a farm. My second that I can remember was the Trixie Belden mystery series. I still love detective stories.


Author Rue Allyn remembers reading The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. I’m not sure why, but these books never crossed my radar. Maybe my local library didn’t have them. Another favorite for her though was the Nancy Drew series of mysteries.

Author Deborah Williams Craton loved the Bobbsey Twins, a preference shared by author Caroline Warfield who also mentioned the Misty of Chingoteague series by Marguerite Henry. Another series about horses that I’d never heard of. (What did my librarians have against horses?) Caroline also binged on Louisa Mae Alcott’s Eight Cousins and the sequel.

Stepping outside the U.S., Janet, one of the British members of the Belles Brigade said that she started her love of books with the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. The first book, published in 1942 must have been a great escape read for British children enduring the fighting of World War II. (Janet came to it later, being too young for WWII.)

Moving to the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand author Jude Knight loved The Adventures of Hutu and Kawa, by Avis Acres. Hutu and Kawa are two pohutukawa fairies, “who lived in the bush with friends such as Willy Weka and various pixies and elves.”

Many of the books mentioned are mysteries and most have at least some adventure. And the publishers were prolific, if not the original authors. Some of the series books were written by multiple ghost writers over a span of decades.
One of the first mysteries I read after finishing all the Trixie Belden books I could get my hands on was The Murders in the Rue Morgue, by Edgar Allen Poe. It scared the bejeebers out of me! I think I’m old enough now to read it again.
Do you have a favorite reading memory that’s not on this list? Share it in the comments please!
6 1 Read moreA Slice of Orange is an affiliate with some of the booksellers listed on this website, including Barnes & Nobel, Books A Million, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. This means A Slice of Orange may earn a small advertising fee from sales made through the links used on this website. There are reminders of these affiliate links on the pages for individual books.
Can a series of wildfires lead to true love under a midnight sun?
More info →A confirmed bachelor with no intentions of settling down...
More info →Would you break the girl code for love?
More info →A Slice of Orange is an affiliate with some of the booksellers listed on this website, including Barnes & Nobel, Books A Million, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. This means A Slice of Orange may earn a small advertising fee from sales made through the links used on this website. There are reminders of these affiliate links on the pages for individual books.
Copyright ©2017 A Slice of Orange. All Rights Reserved. ~PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS ~ CREATED BY ISHYOBOY.COM