Hey there,
I’m back from Germany. It was a whirlwind of a trip, in on Monday and out on Friday, and most of it was either driving or sitting with my mom. Almost no writing happened, and that wasn’t really the point of going.
She’s doing well, but she didn’t want to go outside, which was the small heartbreak of the trip. Germany is in full spring bloom right now. The forests around Coburg are wearing blackthorn and wild cherry blossoms like wedding veils, and driving through those rolling hills took me back to my childhood and made the trip even more bittersweet. Only a few years ago, we would have taken her to a cafe for coffee and cake (a treasured German tradition) and maybe a short forest walk. None of that is possible any longer, and it breaks my heart.
What’s on the Desk
The Germany trip pushed my edit timeline back a bit, but I’m in the home stretch on Spirit Elfen. A few chapters left. By next week’s newsletter, I’m hoping to tell you it’s done and the file is uploaded and ready for you to read on Amazon. Book three is already sitting on the desk waiting its turn, and I will NOT let that one take me as long as this one has.
New here? Or want to reread book 1 before the new Spirit Elfen lands?
Grab Spirit Hunger for FreeElla’s Dark Shelf
Once a month I share what I’ve been reading. These aren’t sponsored or swapped. They’re books I picked up because the premise grabbed me, and I’m telling you about them because they earned it. Three from April that I couldn’t put down:
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Enemies to lovers done RIGHT. A human girl raised by a vampire king enters a deadly tournament, and her biggest threat is the competitor she can’t stop trusting. The tension between Oraya and Raihn had me forgetting to breathe in multiple chapters. If you like your romance served with a side of “I will destroy everything for you,” this is it.
Born in Fire by K.F. Breene
This one is FUN. Reagan is hiding what she is, living off the grid, and mouthing off to everyone including the extremely powerful vampire who won’t leave her alone. Breene writes action scenes like she’s personally annoyed by them, and the banter between Reagan and Darius made me laugh out loud on a train. Urban fantasy romance with teeth.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl raised in the fae court who decides the only way to survive is to become more ruthless than the fae prince who torments her. Jude Duarte is the kind of heroine who makes you fist-pump and then immediately worry about her choices. The enemies-to-lovers arc across this trilogy is one of the best I’ve read. If you haven’t picked this up yet, fix that.
The Dark Bit
Beltane lands on May 1st, and in old Irish tradition the night before is when the boundary between our world and the Otherworld thins. Cattle were driven between twin bonfires for protection. Hawthorn branches were hung over doors. And nobody, absolutely nobody, messed with the fairy forts.
The timing of this month’s reading list is a coincidence. Or it isn’t. I’ll let you decide. 😉
Reader Freebies
Last batch of April freebies. Two collections of free PNR and fantasy romance. Load up your e-reader before May hits.
Bad boys, sweet love. The title alone sold me. Free romance featuring heroes who are trouble on two legs and absolutely worth it.
The big April PNR roundup. Free paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi romance. Last chance before this collection closes at the end of the month.
Some Fellow Authors You Might Love
|
The Hollowing DeepThe Neverdead Series, Book 2 A coastal estate, a buried inheritance, and a love story that refuses to stay buried. If you like your paranormal romance haunted in more ways than one, this is your next read. |
|
Rescued by the Borderland AlphaSteamy PNR by Maxie Thorn Kidnapped, then rescued by a relentless Alpha who claims her as his fated mate. Forced bond, hidden bloodline, and a pack ready to start a war over her. Slow-burn this is not. |
What have YOU been reading lately? Drop me a reply with your best recent read. I’m always adding to the pile, and reader recs have led me to some of my all-time favorites.
If you enjoyed this, forward it to a friend who loves dark romance!
Until next time, xo Ella