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What Kind of Year Has it Been

Kristbethke

A heck of a year, that’s what. The world is a scary place these days for so many reasons. But we all know the state of things, so I won’t rehash that here. Only to say I hope you’re staying safe and using your voice and vote when you can.

What I learned this year is that I would not be as productive without my co-author and partner in crime, Tia. Together we released 3 novels, and on my own, I released a novel and a novella. Not a bad year at all!

First up was Restoring Felix. The third in the Black Dog Inn Series. Felix started out as a side character in the first story, Teague’s best friend, but the instant I put him on the page, Tia and I knew he had a story in him. We were right and this book rounded out the trilogy nicely. (Though there is always the potential for more!)

Tia and I shifted gears, and put on some spurs, to start a new series after that. Blue Creek Ranch was born from an almost throwaway comment, that blossomed into a whole world. With ten siblings in the Harrington family, more than half of whom are some flavor of queer, it was a no brainer. We’re horse people and we loved bringing you Mal and Crew’s story! Take a Chance is the first book.

It was easy to jump right into BCR book 2!. Hawk was screaming in Tia’s head and we dove right in to write his romance with Carter. We knew early on what kind of story this would be with a millionaire and an age gap and a man who loves horses more than people, and despite how much he adores his siblings, needs the quiet too. Earn his Trust was, like all our stories, a labor of love. (And the third story is half written! Look for it in May 2026)

And speaking of labor of love, Operation Date Night Proposal is exactly that. It was time to leave the men of Landry’s Fall behind, a town I created on a whim many years ago and keep revisiting. With other small towns on the go, I knew I wouldn’t be heading back to Landry’s Fall, and I needed to give these guys a proper send off. Revisit all the men of Landry’s Fall and get an update on their continuing HEAs.

And of course, I had to write a holiday story, because they are my favorite. Heading back to Hickory Hollow, we get to follow Tyler and Harris as they find each other and fall in love, among the holiday festivities. Sleigh Bells Ring was not the story I set out to write, but I fell in love with these guys almost instantly. And for those of you keeping track, don’t worry! Next holiday season, we’ll finally find out exactly what is going on with Carrington and Elliott!

So there you have it, my wrapped for the year. All in all, I’m pretty happy with the releases. And look for some other good ones in 2026. I hesitate to commit to too much right at the moment, since we all know things can change on a whim. Mend as Heart Blue Creek Ranch 3 will definitely be out in May. The third Hickory Hollow will be out in December. Other than that…well, I have plans and schemes, and I’m working on things, but bear with me until things are a little more solid. I’ll definitely keep you updated!

Have a joyous new year and may 2026 be our best year yet!

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New Release!

Kristbethke

And just in time for the holiday season!

Some of you may have expected a different couple for this next installment in Hickory Hollow (and if that’s you, don’t worry, they’re coming) but this year, let me introduce you to Harris Emery and Tyler Galloway.

If you haven’t read Home of the Hawley-Daze it’s not necessary to read that one first…but not going to lie, I highly suggest it. Sleigh Bells Ring stands alone just fine, but introduction to the town and Barrett and Morgan first will definitely give you some excellent background. Both Harris and Tyler are mentioned in that book as well, though neither character plays a big part.

So why did they get book 2 instead of someone else (*cough* Elliott and Carrington *cough*)? The simple reason is that Ty and Harris were talking to me and the other two aren’t quite ready yet. (But now that someone else jumped the line, those two are definitely ready for their story to be told.)

Expect all the good feels that you’ve come to love from one of my holiday releases. Instant connection, found family, communication, holiday “magic”, and a whole lot of sweet with heat. This one also has an MC with a chronic illness that’s generally well managed…though everyone who has a chronic illness knows that even if you do everything right, sometimes things go sideways anyway.

So get it here!

Tyler Galloway wasn’t ready to leave the Marine Corps but his body had other ideas. Medical discharge was never in his plans, but with time to kill until he finds his next path in life, Tyler heads to the small town of Hickory Hollow to deliver a sleigh to his old Marine buddy. The last thing he expects is to be charmed by the town and its inhabitants, especially the handsome owner of Wayfair Ranch.
Harris Emery thought he left his hometown in the rearview, but when he learned what his father was doing, he raced back. Now he runs the ranch as an equine sanctuary, with guest cabins and sleigh rides to appease the tourists and supplement his income. Harris still has feelings about Hickory Hollow, but it’s a different place than the one he grew up in.
Tyler and Harris hit it off right from the start, and with Tyler taking some much-needed R and R, he’ll be around for a while. Neither man intends for their time together to last forever. But the more they get to know each other, in and out of bed, the more they are reluctant to say goodbye. It could just be the holiday magic, the step outside of reality. But with Christmas and New Year’s looming, the men need to make a choice. Walking away from each other might be the smarter choice. But if they take the leap and try to make their love last past the holiday season, they might just get the happily ever after they never saw coming.

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What Kind of Year Has it Been

Kristbethke

Well, 2024 is officially coming to a close. And it’s been a heck of a year! I worked from home and so was able to write more, which was a boon to my soul. Here’s a quick recap!

Tia Fielding and I wrote and released the first two books in our Black Dog Inn series. Rebuilding Charlie and Renovating Law were labors of love. We love this world and characters we created. It’s got all the good small town feels, some heavy themes, but a lot of love and joy and fun too. Restoring Felix is up next and we hope to have it out in the beginning of next year!

In July, I released another book in the Landry’s Fall series, for JMS Books’ anniversary. Falling in a Fortnight took a while to get started, but once I got rolling, I was able to crank it out. Jay has been around for a while, if you’ve read the other books in the series. He first showed up in Twas the Play Before Christmas and ever since, I’ve been wanting to write his tale. He also made an appearance in last year’s As Luck Would Have It, and in turn, Kyle is a side character in Jay’s story. It’s got more of those small town feels, a healthy dose of BDSM, and two men falling in love quickly and easily. When it’s right, it’s right! Like all Landry’s Fall books, there’s no need to all of them or read in order to get the whole story, but if you choose to, you’ll see plenty of cameos!

And to round out the year, I released my holiday novel Home for the Hawley-Daze. I love holiday stories, and punny title aside, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. Something about these two just hit home for me. Once again, I set it in a small town (catching a theme here?). Hickory Hollow is vaguely based on the region where I spent a great deal of my childhood and absolutely loved writing it. So much so, I accidentally created a series. That should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following along. I love series. I love to read them and I love to write them. Hickory Hollow is quite a town and I can’t wait to revisit it. Barrett and Morgan are adorable, and with holiday shenanigans as a backdrop, they fall in love. And Barrett finds his home.

So what am I planning for 2025?

Well, as I mentioned, Tia and I will be releasing the next book in the Black Dog Inn series. We also have thoughts about a new series we are planning on hashing out, so look for more from this writing duo!

As for my solo work, I’m definitely diving into to Hickory Hollow again. I have a rough idea for 3 more books. If you’ve ready Home for the Hawley-Daze, you might be able to guess who is up next. Any guessing on who else will be getting books?

Other than that, we’ll see where the muse takes me!

I also have a short story in a charity anthology called Love is Free that will be coming out in January! All proceeds are going to the ACLU. With the US in the state it’s in, and what may be coming, we need to keep fighting for equality for all. I’ll post links when they’re available. Definitely check it out.

Here’s wishing you a healthy and happy New Year! Remember to take care of yourself.

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Stuff Your Kindle Day!

Kristbethke

It’s that glorious day again! Romance Bookworms has a list of over 1000 books that are free for today only!

It’s an quite the list, so make sure you have some time to sit down and check them all out. Take advantage of getting a free book or two or three…or many more. There’s something for everyone on the list, so I’m sure you can find something to tickle your fancy. I know I’ll be looking through it later.

Tia and I have put Rebuilding Charlie up there, so if you haven’t had a chance to start the Black Dog Inn series, this is your chance. And we’re in really great company! So follow the link and get to clicking!

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Out Today!

Kristbethke

Lane and Walker are back in the world!

As I said, this story has been edited and expanded, so there’s a bit more going on than the original version posted here, way back when. I hope you’ll get a chance to check it out. You can get it here.

Aeron’s story is on the schedule to write, though I have other things to finish writing first. As a teaser for that, you’ll definitely have had to read both Not So Familiar and Unfamiliar for his book to make sense. There have been things afoot, and we’ll finally find out exactly what’s been going on in the third book. There maybe be twists no one saw coming…and that’s all I’ll say about that. For now.

But first, we have Lane and Walker, and Archer, and some drama and feels. You know I love these guys, and I love this story, and I’m excited it’s back in the world. If you do get a chance to read it, and you’re able, may I ask that you leave a review somewhere? It really helps with the book’s visibility and I’d greatly appreciate it.

I’ll leave you with the blurb and cover (again. But also, man do I love this cover. Morningstar Ashley hit the concept and the covers for this series out of the park!).

MBI agent and mage Delaney Willis is in hot water. He’s bent the rules one too many times and now finds himself shuffled down to archives. It’s a sting to his ego, but more than that, a waste of his talents. Lane’s solved case rate is one of the highest in the bureau. Now he has to decide what he wants to do with his future. And that’s when Fate steps in.

While visiting friends, Lane is in the right place at the right time to help Walker Hemming when Walker’s teenage son, Archer, goes missing. Calling in favors is a no brainer, and it has nothing to do with the fact that Lane is drawn to the wolf shifter. At least that’s what he tells himself. And it’s a good thing Lane does, because Archer is in serious danger.

But Fate isn’t done with Lane and Walker yet. Rescuing Archer is just the beginning, and Walker knows Lane is his mate. It takes time for Lane to wrap his head around that but there’s no denying the connection they have. With other pieces in play, Lane needs to make tough choices. But with Walker at his side, and the love growing between them, Lane finally is on the right path to his happily ever after.

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Housekeeping

Kristbethke

A few things!

As you may have noticed, the next episode of the serial didn’t go up yesterday. I had other stuff this week, including a trip to the DMV (so fun! sigh) and so I didn’t get it finished. Look for more next week.

Tia and I are hard at work on Renovating Law, the second book in the Black Dog Inn series. You can pick up the first book, Rebuilding Charlie, here if you haven’t already. We really love this world and these characters, and we love telling their stories. Definitely check out the content warnings for Charlie’s story if there are things you need to avoid for your own mental health. Tia and I would rather you skip our book than be triggered. But also know there’s lots of hope and love to go along with the heavier themes. And we’re doing more of the same for Law.

Oh, and this will be a trilogy so there’s one more book after that. 🙂

Mages’ Mates book 2, Unfamiliar, is up for preorder! It releases on 3/21, but if you want to make sure it hits your inbox on that day, go ahead and grab it. As with the first book, Lane and Walker’s story has been edited and expanded. It will also be in KU when it’s released, so you can buy or borrow.

If you didn’t read the first version here, you may have been expecting Aeron’s story next. But don’t worry. His story is coming! I’ll talk more about why it waited, and what the process was for figuring out the “twist” when I’m in the the thick of it.

But there are other things I need to get done before I really get into it. I promise I’ll do my best so that you don’t have to wait too long to get it.

In the meantime, check out the blurb and cover for Unfamiliar. Once again, Morningstar Ashley hit the cover out of the park.

MBI agent and mage Delaney Willis is in hot water. He’s bent the rules one too many times and now finds himself shuffled down to archives. It’s a sting to his ego, but more than that, a waste of his talents. Lane’s solved case rate is one of the highest in the bureau. Now he has to decide what he wants to do with his future. And that’s when Fate steps in.

While visiting friends, Lane is in the right place at the right time to help Walker Hemming when Walker’s teenage, Archer, son goes missing. Calling in favors is a no brainer, and it has nothing to do with the fact that Lane is drawn to the wolf shifter. At least that’s what he tells himself. And it’s a good thing Lane does, because Archer is in serious danger.

But Fate isn’t done with Lane and Walker yet. Rescuing Archer is just the beginning, and Walker knows Lane is his mate. It takes time for Lane to wrap his head around that but there’s no denying the connection they have. With other pieces in play, Lane needs to make tough choices. But with Walker at his side, and the love growing between them, Lane finally is on the right path to his happily ever after.

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Coming Soon!

Kristbethke

I know, I know. I’ve been absent for quite a while. I haven’t been around much on the web in general, and there’s a whole host of reasons for that. But none of that matters. Hopefully, y’all haven’t forgotten me entirely. And I’m here to bring you news!

Last fall, Tia Fielding and I started planning a book together. Almost instantly, it became a duology, a story each for a pair of brothers. And now there will be three books (in total? I’m not sure. But three books definitely, as a secondary character spoke up the instant we put him on page, and now he needs a books too). We finished the first book, and it will soon hit shelves! Probably this week, so keep your eyes peeled for links.

Rebuilding Charlie is the first book in the Black Dog Inn series. Its a bit angstier than I normally write, but if you’ve read Tia’s work (and you should! Because I love their stories! If you want recs, lemme know), you’ll be a bit more familiar with the tone. It’s still fluffy in places. There’s still lots of love and hope and all that good stuff. But there’s also some heavier themes as well including cis body dysmorphia, parental and ex-partner emotional/mental abuse, religious trauma, and suicidal ideation (only briefly mentioned). Definitely check out the preview of the book to see a full list.

We had a blast writing this book, and Tia and I played off each other really well. Writing back and forth was fun, and we fell in love with these boys, the fictional town of Fairville, and the host of secondary characters. We’re already writing book 2, Renovating Law, and having just as good a time.

Before I leave you with the blurb and cover for Rebuilding Charlie, let me catch you up on some other things.

I am finally getting the finishing touches done on Unfamiliar, the second book in the Mages’ Mates series (for those of you who know, that’s Lane and Walker’s book) I’m expecting to send that to the beta and editor today (heads up, Admiral! ;)) and so it should be just a few weeks until that hits shelves too. And I have a loose plot for More Than Familiar, which is Aeron’s story, but it’s only the highlights I want to hit since I’m pretty much a panster. Aeron’s story is the one that brings several pieces together that happened in the first two, that readers might not even know were connected, and I’m super excited to tuck into that.

And the last thing I wanted to mention is that it is my fervent hope to bring back Flash Fic Fridays (probably as serial stories, because you know how much I love them) as soon as this week. I’ve let those get away from me in the face of…everything else. But I do very much enjoy them and I know most of you do as well.

Anyway, that’s all I have for now. As I said, I’ll post when Rebuilding Charlie goes live, so you have an easy click click if you’d like to get it. Watch this space. And without further ado, check out this lovely cover and blurb!

One day at a time, one cupcake at a time, I was determined to win him over.

Charlie Caldwell has hit a breaking point. With more than just his mental health on the line, he makes the decision to move across the country to work for his best friend, leaving his brother and niblings behind. A new start isn’t going to fix him. His dysmorphia isn’t going to magically go away. But his hope is that being in a new place and going no contact with his toxic mother will at least allow him to breathe. 

Teague Mulligan might look like a lumberjack, but he’s really a marshmallow. And he likes it that way. He’s a doer, a fixer, and his wide shoulders are big enough to handle any problem. He’s always going to put himself between the world and the people he loves. But when he first meets Charlie, Teague doesn’t make a great first impression. Fortunately, he gets a chance to apologize and explain. Though Teague is immediately attracted to Charlie, he recognizes the other man has built walls around himself. Teague vows to go at Charlie’s pace, even if friendship is the only thing he can have.

The more they get to know each other, the more the attraction blooms. But Charlie’s past trauma keeps him from leaping. As much as he likes Teague, he knows the road blocks his mental health puts in the way. But Teague is as patient as he is kind, and as the days go on, trust is built. Slowly and surely, Charlie lets Teague in. Neither Charlie nor Teague were looking for love, but day by day, and cupcake by cupcake, love is exactly what they find.

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Worth It…Again

Kristbethke

Ten years ago, on this very day, I became a published author. If you’ve been here for any length of time, you might be familiar with my story. Heck, it’s a familiar one for many an author. But for those of you who are new here, let me sum up:

I fell in love with writing at the tender age of ten. Thus began my dream of publishing stories. And even back then, I leaned toward romance (I read far above my age level, I know I’m not the only one!) and always wanted to tell stories of people falling in love. First it was teen romance, and then more Harlequin style stories (like the ones I craftily stole from Oma). Eventually, I also fell in love with fantasy and PNR. When I stumbled into MM romance long about 2009, the stories in my brain shifted as well. But it took my four more years before I finally wrote a story that I thought might be worthy of publishing.

That story was Worth It a short second chance romance about a Christmas tree farmer and the man he loved. I was thrilled when it was picked up, enamored with the process, excited to be a part of the event. It was the beginning of my career and I haven’t stopped since.

Ten years and nearly forty stories later, I’m still here. When the press that shall not be named did what they did, and I got all the rights back to all my titles, I republished them quickly. Except for that first short story. I was a far different writer, and a different person in 2019 than I was in 2013. Better in both aspects, I like to think. And that short story, didn’t quite fit any more. I decided it would keep it in my back pocket and maybe revamp it one day.

Today is that day. Not only has it been re-edited more in keeping with my author’s voice, but an additional 8K words have been added. It’s now twice as long as it was before, bringing it to a novelette length. There’s more of Jack and Ryan, which is awesome, and has a beautiful new cover, done by the amazing Morningstar Ashley. And I thought, what better way to celebrate my tenth anniversary than by republishing the story that started it all.

If you read the original, some minor plot points have changed and, as I said, a whole bunch of new content added. But at it’s heart, it’s till a story about Jack, a man who let’s the love of his life go to pursue his dreams, and Ryan doing exactly that, all while knowing he was coming back for Jack. It’s about how they can move forward with their lives now that they’ve found each other again. And yes, it’s mostly fluffy, with a lot of love and very little angst. With a bit of Christmas magic thrown in.

Jackson Bennett and Ryan Hennigan met and fell in love while Ryan worked on Jack’s family’s Christmas tree farm. Back then, Jack broke his own heart by convincing Ryan to leave and pursue his future. Ryan went, but only after Jack agreed to reunite when Ryan graduated from college. Now, five years later, it’s time, but Jack is convinced Ryan won’t show—and when he does, Jack is certain Ryan can’t possibly want to stay. Ryan, however, has no intention of being anywhere other than in Jack’s arms. Loving each other is easy, but finding a way through challenges to a future together is worth it.

Buy or borrow here!

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Stuff and Things

Kristbethke

There’s a lot going on right now!

Not So Familiar is out and you can get it here if you haven’t already, available to borrow or buy. A reminder that if you read the original version here on the site it has been updated, expanded, and edited. So far, reviews have been pretty positive and I’m loving seeing new people finding Gareth and Owen and enjoying them.

Lane and Walker’s story, now titled Unfamiliar, is getting the polish treatment right now. Or about to anyway. It will also be expanded and edited, and hopefully available in January. That’s the goal right now, though I don’t have a specific date as of yet. So watch this space for news on that front.

And for those of you wondering, yes Aeron will also be getting a story. For a long time, I was having trouble sorting out some particular plot points and I really wanted to do that story justice. But with a little conversation recently, as well as a lightbulb moment, I have figured it out. I’m excited to get working on that. Working title is More Than Familiar and it’s going to have some twists some may not see coming. I think it’ll round out the trilogy nicely.

As for more in that world…well, I have ideas but we shall see 😉

In other news, I have a release next month! Soulmate for Solstice is out December 22nd. I don’t have links or anything to share yet because it goes live that day, will be free for that day only, and then will be up for sale. It’s part of the JMS Books Advent Calendar, where a new release will be free to download from the site each day leading up to Christmas. I’ll provide more details once the event gets underway, as well as links. It’s about a witch who was raised by raven shifters and a wolf shifter who belongs to a new pack, finding each other and realizing they are mates. I’m sure the storyline doesn’t surprise a lot of you! Blurb and cover coming soon.

Next month is my 10 year publishing anniversary! I have something special planned and, though I hate to say it, details coming soon. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years and 30 some odd stories since I began this journey. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you might know that it’s always been a dream of mine to be a published romance author. And now here I am, doing it full time (at least for now, though that probably will change). I’ve always loved telling stories, and love stories are my favorite. I have stories from multiple subgenres, and I continue to explore characters and plots that intrigue and excite.

And the last bit of news I have to share is about my co-authored project. Tia Fielding and I have teamed up to write (hopefully and at least) a duology to share with you. We’re hard at work on the first one, and have hit the home stretch. We both adore this story, the MCs, and the diverse cast of characters we’ve created. There’s feels and sweetness, fun and emotion. It’s set in a small town, it has several tropes we both love, and we’re really enjoying it. I think you will too. It’s also much longer than my usual fair, so that’s something to look forward to as well.

Oh and one more thing! I’m now over on Blue Sky Social, if you want to follow me there.

So I think that’s it for now. I’ll definitely post updates as I have them. And make sure you’re following me here or on a social so that you don’t miss anything. Also expect more Flash Fic Fridays in the near future. In the meantime, stay safe and happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!