romance

My Top 5 Reads of 2025

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

Okay, it’s technically my top 8 reads of 2025, but 4 of them are in the same series, so I’m reviewing them together. 

I read 41 books this year – 2 more than my goodreads goal! 5 (8) of them I loved so much, I need to share them with you.

Remember When We by Khardine Gray. 

Khardine Gray also writes under the name Faith Summers. Whether she’s writing as Khardine or Faith, her series are all mafia romances. Remember When We is my absolute favorite of hers. It’s the third installment of her Gangster and Dolls series. It’s a second chance romance with the older brother’s best friend and secret baby tropes weaved into the plot. Lyssa and Gio haven’t seen each other in almost a decade. The death of Lyssa’s brother, Gio’s best friend tore them apart. Now they’re back in each other’s lives, and Lyssa owes money to the wrong man. Gio must not only win back her heart, but also save her from dangerous men who want to harm her.

Khardine/Faith write very spicy love scenes, and most of her MMCs are morally grey and very alpha-like. Several of her stories cross the line for me; but knowing that she has stories like Remember When We keeps me reading her stuff.

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes

Unlike the other Bridgerton stories, Queen Charlotte the book was released after Queen Charlotte the limited Netflix series. But like most film-book comparisons, the book is better! What I love about reading is that we get to experience the characters’ emotions in their heads. On screen, we guess what they’re feeling by their body language and tone of voice. Like the mini-series, Queen Charlotte follows Charlotte and George’s early days as newlyweds, Brimsley and Reynolds’ relationship, and Lady Danbury’s fight to keep her children’s rightful status after her husband dies. The book also gets a couple of scenes that aren’t in the show. My guess is they are scenes that either got deleted from final edits, or were never filmed due to time. And finally, Brimsley and Reynolds’ love story is so much better in the book. I didn’t like their story in the show. I thought Reynolds was toxic and verbally abusive. In the book, Brimsley calls Reynsolds out on this unequal behavior, and Reynolds changes for the better by the end of the book.

I’m all for Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes continuing to give side characters their own story. 

The Rokesby Series by Julia Quinn

  • Because of Miss Bridgerton
  • The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
  • The Other Miss Bridgerton
  • First Comes Scandal

These four books are considered the Bridgerton Prequels. The MMCs of each book are a son in the Rokesby family – the family whose countryside property is next to the Bridgerton’s Aubrey Hall. And three of the FMCs are a Bridgerton girl; either a sister or cousin to Edmund Bridgerton (Violet’s husband and father to the eight main Bridgertons). I argue that these four books are better than the original eight Bridgerton books. But I’m sure it’s because Julia Quinn started with the Bridgerton books, and simply improved her plot creativity and writing skills as she wrote and published more. Let’s dive in to a brief summary of each:

Because of Miss Bridgerton is about the oldest Rokesby, George, and the oldest Bridgerton Billie (Sibylla). They think they hate each other, but their mothers know better and hook them up with an elaborate scheme of dinner parties and visiting London.

The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband takes us to the colonies on the North American continent during the American Revolution. Edward, the second oldest Rokesby is serving the King in his Majesty’s army. Cecilia has traveled to the colonies to find her injured brother, who happens to be Edward’s best friend. In order to get the answers she seeks, Cecilia needs the Rokesby name, and pretends to be married to Edward.

The Other Miss Bridgerton is about the third Rokesby, Andrew, and a Bridgerton cousin, Poppy. Andrew is a ship captain. His ship participates in some legit business and some pirate-level business. Poppy gets kidnapped by some of his crew, and he has to take care of her while they make an important and deadline-driven journey to Portugal. 

First Comes Scandal is about the youngest Rokesby, Nicholas, and the youngest Bridgerton Georgie (Georgiana). Georgie’s reputation has been compromised by a malicious young man who wanted to force her to marry him. Nicholas’ father asks him to marry her in order to save her from a life of spinsterhood and a soiled reputation. Their love story begins after their marriage. 

In usual Julia Quinn fashion, these four stories are full of witty women, temperamental men, and comedy. I love her writing, and this is my favorite series of hers (so far).    

Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins

I didn’t know who Mitt Romney was before he became a real contender in the 2012 Republican primaries. Part of that is because I was too young to vote or care before then, and part because I took a political science class during that time, so of course my professor used class time to closely follow the campaigns. Over the years, I have grown to greatly respect Mitt Romney, especially during his time as a Senator representing Utah. Reading this biography that covers both his personal and political life was very enlightening, and I like him even more now. Mitt Romney always tries to do what he thinks is right, even when others disagree with and disparage him. I think he’s a great role model for future politicians. 

Zalis by Nancey Cummings

Nancey Cummings writes science fiction romances, and her longest running series is the Warlord Brides/Warriors of Sangrin series. Zalis is the 13th installment in that series (16th, if you count the three side stories, which I do). It popped up on my “Because you read…” recommendations on my kindle, and I bought it right away and started reading immediately. Zalis is an alien warrior, his species is called Mahdfel, and he is of the Sangrin line. He meets his human mate when he rescues her in a group of kidnapped human women to be sold on the sentient being trafficking market. Gemma does not want to go back to earth, so she accepts a match with Zalis in order to stay near her twin sister. What will start as a marriage of convenience, has the chance to bud into love. I love Nancy Cummings’ writing. She is creative in her world building. She develops humorous and witty characters. Most authors cannot continue a series for this long and keep it entertaining with readers still wanting more. But I do want more, and her acknowledgements at the end of Zalis do promise more in due time!

What were your favorite books that you read in 2025? Share them in the comments!

New Release: Lost in His Spiderwebs

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

I’m excited to have Amber Daulton back on the blog. Her latest book, Lost in His Spiderwebs released today. And the title is perfect for an October release. Here’s Amber.

Lost in His Spiderwebs is the second book in the Lozano Cartel series, where we dive into the lives of Rubén Lozano and Drina Cabrera in a dark, second-chance romance neither one of them saw coming.

Rubén is not someone you want to cross. A cold, calculating cartel kingpin, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. Flip the coin and you got Drina—a widowed mother who’s raising her daughter alone while struggling to keep the darkness of her own mother’s anti-cartel resistance group out of their lives. These two couldn’t be more different. But when Drina’s world falls apart, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous cartel web, with none other than Rubén as her unlikely savior. The twist? He’s the man she’d loved and left long ago.

As for my inspiration… Well, that’s a bit of a story in itself.

Rubén and Drina were introduced as secondary characters in book 1, Dark Hearts Aflame. From the moment Rubén showed up on the page, I knew he deserved his own story, but at first, I couldn’t figure out who his heroine would be. After playing around with a few ideas and scrapping them, inspiration finally struck—Drina! She was the perfect fit for him. I’ve always loved the “opposites attract” trope, so I started plotting their story with her as his love interest. But something just didn’t feel right. At this point, Rubén and Drina were complete strangers when they meet in Chapter One, and that bothered me. There wasn’t enough depth or chemistry between them to make the story truly compelling.

I spent weeks, literally weeks, brainstorming how to make this connection feel real. And then, it hit me. Second-chance romance! Another favorite trope. What if Rubén and Drina had a past? What if they were once lovers, and he’s the father of her daughter, though he doesn’t know it? Once that idea clicked into place, I had everything I needed to take the story in a fresh direction.

I’m a plotter, and I like to outline chapter by chapter. I use pen, paper, and colored pencils, but sometimes I plot in a Word doc. I try to follow my notes exactly, but more often than not, the characters take control and steer my story in another direction. Beyond the initial plot issues, Rubén and Drina were pretty well-behaved. I didn’t have to get into a lot of arguments with them or force them to follow my painstakingly plotted outline, as I’ve had to do with other characters in other stories. It’s always a relief when my H/h play ball.

Who am I outside of writing, you might ask? I’m not sure I know. Writing is my life. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I’m on my laptop, researching, editing, or writing something fresh. When I’m brain dead from that, I like reading, hiking, binge watching my favorite TV shows, digging in my herb beds, and playing with my cats. Though, usually, I’m writing with a cat snuggled up beside me, so I’m always spending time with the furballs. I’m married to a supportive man who loves cooking (lucky me!), though I can’t get him to sweep the floor to save my life. Haha!

Today is the release day for Lost in His Spiderwebs, and I’m super excited. It’s my 20th published work to date. That’s right. The big 2-0! I’m already working on the next book, Corrupting His Wife, which is currently in the draft phase. The Lozano Cartel series will span several standalone novels, so be sure to subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media to stay updated. In the meantime, add Lost in His Spiderwebs to your reading list. You don’t want to miss it!

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the
Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print
on demand, audio, and foreign language formats. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats. Follow Amber at https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?
Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and
death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her
haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.
After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s
masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant
wedge between them.
When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her
king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?

Romance Tropes in Iron Flame

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

Iron Flame is the second installment of The Empyreon series, and it starts right where Fourth Wing left off. This sequel also ends on a major cliffhanger, and Onyx Storm picks off right where Iron Flame left off. Because of that, Iron Flame doesn’t feel like a complete singular story. Now that I’m almost done with Onyx Storm, it’s clear this series is one larger story instead of multiple parts that are connected. So, because of that, I did thoroughly enjoy reading Iron Flame and rate it 5 stars. And I have three main takeaways to discuss. 

What flaws are okay in a love interest?

Something I’ve noticed among online forums where favorite romance couples are discussed: each individual reader has their own lines in the sand on what is and isn’t forgivable among the flaws and mistakes that characters make. I had an experience with my own writing where in a set of beta readers one vehemently did not like the male love interest and was disappointed my female main character ended up with him. I did take his comments seriously, and made one tiny adjustment in one scene based on what he didn’t like. But it made me realize that not every reader is going to be okay with the choices the love interest makes, which will affect whether they root for that love interest to get their HEA or not. And that’s okay. 

For me, I had a similar issue with Xaden for a good chunk of Iron Flame. At the end of Fourth Wing he accidentally shares with Violet a pretty big secret. Violet is understandably furious that he kept something like that from her, and is even more angry that the only reason she now knows is because Xaden’s original plan went awry. At the beginning of Iron Flame, Xaden agrees to no more secrets under the caveat that Violet has to ask questions, and he’ll answer them honestly. But Violet can’t ask questions if she doesn’t know what information she’s missing. Xaden also won’t be intimate with Violet again until she says she loves him, which she won’t do until she can trust him. The two are at an impasse of Xaden’s own making. 

I have read so many romances with similar tensions where the female character gives in and the male gets his way. It creates an unequal dynamic that doesn’t sit well with me. And I was so fearful Violet was going to do the same thing. And if she did, would I still love this story? Would I enjoy reading their relationship scenes? Luckily, I was not forced to answer those questions. Both Violet and Xaden were able to compromise in a way that I found valid, and I’m back on Team Xaden. 

A new take on the jealous ex

The jealous ex causing tension and problems is my least favorite trope in a romance. So when Cat was introduced as Xaden’s ex who is still hung up on him, I was none too pleased. I was ready to throw the book across the room if Violet walked in on them and “it’s not what it looks like!” 

Lucky for me, and my copy of the book, that did not happen. Rebecca Yarros takes the jealous ex trope in a different direction that I ended up enjoying. Cat admits to Violet that she doesn’t love Xaden, she just wants what a marriage to him would provide: a crown. Xaden is the heir of Tyrrendor. Depending on how far back historians go, that makes him a duke at the lowest and a king at the highest. Cat is of royal blood from another kingdom, and Violet has no nobility in her lineage (that we know of so far in the series). The fact that Cat has no qualms with admitting her ambitions in front of an audience shines light on the culture these characters live in. Status and titles are more important than love. But like all characters like Xaden, he doesn’t care, and openly keeps Violet as his girlfriend.  

Correct representation of twenty-year-olds

Oftentimes, younger characters are depicted as much more mature than is realistic. While there are people in this world who are more intelligent and mature than is typical for their age group, the staggering number of such people as fictional characters probably doesn’t match reality. Rebecca Yarros does an amazing job of depicting people in their early twenties correctly. 

Violet is your typical brainiac main character who “isn’t like other girls.” But she also is like other girls in the fact that she falls in love quickly, overthinks Xaden’s words and actions in their relationship, and gets insanely jealous.

Xaden is the begrudging aristocrat who is thrust into leadership much too young. But he also has a temper that would get weaker characters into trouble and is willing to sacrifice the world for Violet.  

Rhiannon is a natural leader who still enjoys hookups, drinking, and partying.

Ridoc is the comedic relief who still has talent and grit that come in handy during battle. 

Garrick is the best friend who isn’t afraid to put Xaden in his place, but enjoys hook ups and flings. (Though I’m really hoping he and Imogen will end up together in the end.)

Imogen holds nasty grudges and talks back, but is fiercely loyal to her people. 

Sloan allows trauma and heartbreak to guide her emotions and choices, but shows incredible growth by the end.

Brhodi also provides comic relief and wisdom as he gives advice to Violet and Xaden.

There are many more characters to discuss, but the above are the ones I wanted to highlight for this post.

Overall, Iron Flame took me on an emotional journey that I’m still not quite recovered from. I love the world Rebecca Yarros has created, and her characters are the perfect cherry on top.

Have you read Iron Flame? What are your thoughts on it?

When expectations are challenged: Fourth Wing

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

A year ago, I wrote about my journey as a reader to loving flawed characters and appreciating how their flaws shape the story. And since then, I’ve been more aware of how a story can challenge the reader regarding their belief about the real world or literary expectations for specific genres and character types. I recently had a wonderful experience being challenged by Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. 

How corrupt governments are viewed by the protagonist

The first chapter already had me raising my eyebrows. It didn’t make any sense to me why the government would set up tests and challenges that could kill a citizen who is willingly trying to be part of the military. Right away my question was, “Why don’t they have some sort of magical something to catch the people who fall from the parapet so that they can pick a different career since they aren’t cut out to be a dragon rider?” And it made even less sense that those who made it into the rider’s quadrant were not only allowed but encouraged to kill their classmates. Once again, why isn’t something set up to protect their lives, but they can still fail and be sent back to civilian life? This violent and deadly setup was my first major clue that the government was corrupt.

The next early clue is the fact that children of separatists (a rebellion/secession that happened before the story started) are forced to walk the parapet and to [hopefully] die in the rider’s quadrant, though many make it through, like Xaden, Imogen, Garrick, and Liam. 

But where I got stuck was Violet’s (the main character) acceptance that this is how it is. She doesn’t question it. She doesn’t want to be part of it herself, but she doesn’t view it as bad or evil, just not for her. And it took her a long time to start to question what was going on. It was very frustrating for me because there was a very clear Hunger Games vibe with many of the training, tests, and games that the riders do to strengthen themselves for war. And because of that, I erroneously expected Violet to be more like Katniss in knowing right off the bat that her government is awful.

But Violet doesn’t come from an oppressed part of the kingdom. She’s moved around as a “military brat” with her mom rising in fame and power as a war general. So, of course she’ll have a different view of things. It’s not how she starts, it’s how she ends. And in the end, Violet accepts the truth.  

Whose job is it to flirt in fiction?

Violet and Xaden are both dealing with enemies-to-lovers and forbidden love tensions that make them fight their attraction toward one another for the first three-quarters of the book. Before they give in to their feelings, the reader gets 300 pages of Violet’s inner thoughts about how beautiful, muscley, and hot Xaden is. And at first, it was a little cringe for me. 

Tangent time: I was in high school when Twilight came out, and I fell hard for that series. My dance coach decided to read the first book because all of us teenage girls were constantly talking about it. Her response: “I got really bored of Bella constantly moaning about how ‘he’s so hot, I can’t stop thinking about him.’” It made me laugh then, and it still makes me laugh now. 

Anyway, that’s how I felt being in Violet’s thoughts about Xaden when it appeared he didn’t feel it back, yet. (Keyword: appeared) 

So, Violet and Xaden eventually give in to their attraction and they have two kisses before they finally do the deed. After that, Xaden doesn’t quite say “this was a mistake” (thank Gods), but he does say they’re not going to be in an official relationship. Violet decides she has more self-respect than to be his dirty little secret, so she decides they won’t have anymore physical relations if they aren’t going to also have an emotional relationship. Xaden respects her boundaries, though he’s confident he can break through them again. During their “dry spell”, Violet continuously reminds Xaden how great they could be together and how she’s certain he does feel something for her. 

During these moments I felt second-hand embarrassment for Violet. She was coming off as clingy and crazy.

But then I had a realization and metaphorically slapped myself in the face. If Violet was a male character, all of her thoughts about Xaden being beautiful and her attempts to convince Xaden to give them a try would be viewed as cute and expected for a romance. I realized I was still stuck in the society I had grown up in: the boy chases the girl, the girl does not chase the boy. 

And I got to thinking about my own relationship. I offered my number to my husband first. I asked him on a date first. 

So in our 21st Century of trying to retain equal rights: girls can chase the relationship if they’re comfortable doing that. And Xaden loves Violet’s confidence. 😉    

Cliff Hangers 

Rebecca Yarros ends almost every single chapter on various levels of a cliffhanger. Which writers have been strongly encouraged to do. You want the reader to NOT pause at the end of the chapter. But I’m not the kind of reader that needs every chapter to end that way. When the story is amazing, I don’t need a cliff hanger to convince me to keep reading. And Fourth Wing is more than good enough on its own. I’m happy when a chapter ends with temporary breaths of relief, resignation, or something more calming. In addition to that, several cliff hangers didn’t lead into the next chapter. The scene would skip several hours, days, and sometimes weeks. So It was a little frustrating when that happened. In my opinion, a cliffhanger should only happen if the next chapter starts where the previous chapter left off.

At the same time, I think I understand why Rebecca Yarros wrote Fourth Wing this way. This book takes place over the course of an entire calendar year, and we have to go through action packed military college scenes mixed with spicy romance. There was a lot to cover, and the book is already incredibly long, so some things did need to be skipped over and left up to the reader’s imagination or summarized through telling. 

Overall, Fourth Wing was a wild ride that I enjoyed immensely. In fact, I’m so hooked on Violet’s journey, that I moved the sequel, Iron Flame, to the top of my tbr list. I’m 300 pages in and can’t wait to write my analysis for that one.

In the meantime, subscribe to this blog to get access to my monthly newsletter, which provides updates on my own writing.

New Release: Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders by M.S. Spencer

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

I would like to introduce M.S. Spencer to you. She has had a long academic and writing career, and would like to share her latest release with you, which came out yesterday.

Thank you so much for having me today! I’d like to introduce you to the setting of my new mystery, which happens to be my hometown!

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, is the only one of my novels set in my home town and in the house I grew up in. Marmion Grove is modeled after a town near Washington DC. Founded in 1891 next to the B&O railroad line, it was developed as a getaway for DC dwellers during the hot and humid summers. Filled with hundred-year-old trees, including the majestic swamp magnolias, there are no sidewalks and no through streets. Fifty-four houses, including mine, are on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is peopled by a quirky assortment of academics, scientists, and eccentrics. Writing Railroad Ties reminded me of what a great place to live.

Another autobiographical detail is my heroine Sophie Childress’s involvement with the Vassar Book Sale. Now closed down, for forty years it was one of the largest and most successful used book sales in the country, raking in an average of $100,000 for scholarships. The sale lasted a week, but preparations, including book pricing, had to be done year-round. She follows in my footsteps to learn rare book evaluation—which leads her into the mystery.

Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. She has published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels, and divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine. Follow M.S. Spencer on her blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

When Sophie Childress discovers a letter written in 1920 by the witness to a murder, she enlists Noah Pennyman—owner of the house where it took place—to investigate. Who was the victim? What did the killer do with the body—not to mention a carpetbag full of money? Together they expose a complex web of family ties and lies that has persisted through four generations in the historic village of Marmion Grove. When two more corpses are unearthed, Noah and Sophie are faced with too many victims and not enough murderers.

Excerpt: Sophie and Noah Meet

She parked at the curb, where a hedge of yellow forsythia marked the property line. The front lawn led up to a porch completely engulfed in a reticulated wisteria vine as thick and complex as fine lacework. Halfway up reared an ancient tree, its knobbed and serrated trunk perhaps five feet in diameter. The pendulous branches were the size of fully grown trees and were only kept from falling by a steel chain wrapped around them. Its broad leaves were gigantic. They must be almost two feet long!

As she sat gawking, a pleasant male voice said, “It’s a swamp magnolia. At least a hundred and fifty years old.”

Startled, she knocked her knee on the steering wheel. “Ouch!”

A young man came around the car and peered in her window. “Are you all right?”

She looked up into cornflower blue eyes partially obscured by a shrubbery of sandy hair. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just… I’ve never seen such big leaves before.”

“We used to use them as dinner plates, but they’re a bitch to wash.” He leaned in. “May I help you?”

She left off gazing at him and shook herself. “Oh. Oh, yes. Is this”—she checked Connie’s directions—“Peveril Hall?”

“It is indeed.”

“Do you live here? I’m supposed to collect a load of books for the Vassar Book Sale.”

“Ah. No. I mean, no, I don’t live here. Anymore. I used to. I grew up here, but I’ve been away a long time.”

“Then you can’t help me?”

“Huh? No! I mean, yes, I can help you. This is my house.”

“But you just said…”

He pointed to his left. “Head on up the driveway there. I’ll meet you out back.” And he loped off across the grass.

Okey doke. Sophie followed a lane along the side of the house to a gravel lot fronting a two-story garage. The backyard was dotted with small buildings. She got out and scanned the area. A small octagonal hut stood near a stately sycamore. Next to it crouched a one-room shanty with a chimney. That must be the servants’ quarters. She looked up at the garage. A huge hook painted green was attached to the wall just under the gable. “I wonder what that’s for.”

Just then the young man came around the corner of the house. “Hey there. I’m Noah, by the way. Noah Pennyman. My mother was the Vassar grad. And you are?”

She took a moment to admire his mobile, angular features. He seemed always on the verge of speaking…or maybe singing. The shock of blond hair fell negligently across his brow. When he shook her hand, a very masculine aroma of citrus and spice enveloped her. She suppressed the urge to inhale. “Sophie Childress. I’m from the—”

“Vassar Book Sale. So you said.” He reached out and flicked her hair. “Nice French braid. I never could figure out how it’s done. Come on inside.”

Railroad Ties is available at Books2Read, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple/IBooks, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

New Release: Dark Hearts Aflame by Amber Daulton

Posted on by Chelsey M. Ortega

I’m really excited to welcome Amber Daulton back to the blog today. Her latest book, Dark Hearts Aflame, is available right now. Check out Amber’s journey to giving life to a side character’s story.

Dark Hearts Aflame follows Bristol Rieger and Carmen Lozano as they go off the grid to escape the criminals hunting them. Bristol himself is a retired drug lord who’s trying to go straight. Carmen is a cartel princess who has forsaken her crown and now lives under an assumed name while working as a medic with an anti-cartel resistance group. After her enemies discover her secret, Bristol gets roped into her problems. Danger, violence, and hot romance follows.

Originally, Dark Hearts Aflame was the final book in my romantic suspense series, Arresting Onyx, but it didn’t quite fit. Since it was so much darker than the Onyx books, I decided to create a spin-off series, the Lozano Cartel, and fully immerse myself in the dark romance genre. As for what inspired this story, I’m not sure. Bristol was a minor character in the Arresting Onyx series and quickly became one of my favorites. I knew from early on that I wanted to give him his own book, so when I sat down to plot out his story, the ideas just flowed out of me. I wrote the first draft back in 2018 and kept revising it off and on over the years while I multi-tasked in writing, editing, and publishing other books.

I’m a plotter, though I’ve been known to hand over the reins to my characters when they want to change something. I like to outline each scene either on paper or on my laptop, so I can see what works or move ideas around when needed. Sometimes, I get story ideas from my dreams; other times, I have to think about it for days on end. I never know when my muse will fire up, so I usually keep a pad of paper and a pen around for when I need them. I typically write every day, usually when I wake up in the morning until dinner time with a few short breaks in between. After dinner, I either relax or keep writing if my muse is fired up. I don’t have a day job at the moment, so I’m writing more often than not.

Outside of writing, I enjoy binge-watching TV shows, playing with my cats, hiking in the woods behind my house, and cultivating my herb beds. This year, my hubby and I have planted onions and potatoes in our garden, so that upkeep is going to keep me busy throughout the summer and fall.

Dark Hearts Aflame is now available at all online retailers. I’m currently revising book 2, Lost in His Spiderwebs, which will be released in October 2025. The Lozano Cartel series will span several novels and novellas, all of which are standalone stories, so please subscribe to my newsletter or follow my social media to keep tabs on when these books will be out. Enjoy the ride!

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Follow Amber: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton
Check out her website (Daulton Publishing): https://amberdaulton.com
Sign up for her Exclusive Newsletter (free ebook to new subscribers):
https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/

He gets more than he bargained for with his runaway cartel princess.

A drug lord on the run. A cartel princess in hiding. All it takes is a spark to set their world ablaze.

Bristol Rieger left his criminal life behind for a fresh start in Mexico. Flying under the radar of the government and the cartels alike, his best-laid plans go awry when a woman from his narco days discovers his whereabouts. Carmen Lozano, however, is no longer the innocent girl he remembers.

Carmen escaped the chains of her tiara and her abusive marriage to join a group of resistance fighters. The last thing she expected was the now-retired capo setting out to seduce her with his wicked touch. Embracing the blood on his hands is easy, but his secrets wear on her patience.

When their enemies close in, Bristol will have to summon his inner monster to protect her. But can that monster be tamed again?

– Book one is an Interracial (Hispanic woman/white man) dark romance novel in the Lozano Cartel series. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuring torture/violence, kidnapping, attempted assault, infertility issues, child abuse (discussed), and suicide (discussed) may be uncomfortable for some readers.

– No cheating and HEA guaranteed!