Ashleigh Stevens's Blog

Welcome to Ashleigh Stevens Books Books for the whole family
Children's Picture Books Middle Grade Fantasy Young Adult Romance & Drama Adult Cozy Mysteries Sweet Romance & Romantic Suspense

Children's Picture Books The Cuteness Story

Can Molly's cuteness save the land from evil?

This story was created when six-year-old “Molly” asked Santa for a story about cuteness. When Stephen asked her what she meant, she described the story as follows:

“There was a cute little girl and then evilness arrived.
And there was a battle and the cuteness faded the evilness away.”

Middle Grade Fantasy Arctic Druid

Can this young hunter find the druid in time to save his village?

For as long as he could remember, Eamon has wanted to become a hunter like his father. Now that he is twelve, he can finally go on his solo hunt to show he is ready. As the only person in his village ever to kill a moose, he has a good chance. But when he seeks assistance returning to the village, the hunters decide he should seek apprenticeship elsewhere.

Crestfallen, Eamon waits for his chance to prove himself to the hunters. When a mysterious darkness threatens to destroy his village, he sees his chance.

Only the Arctic Druid can rid the land of the darkness, but reaching him involves crossing the Barren Plains and Do’gorym Sea. No one wants to make the journey to seek his help. Some villagers don’t believe the darkness is a threat. Others doubt the druid even exists. Those who do fear they won’t survive the journey.

Eamon alone believes it’s possible. But will he be in time?

Arctic Lynx

After a week of hunting, Gil spots an arctic lynx. No one in his village has ever killed one. They believe doing so would bring bad luck.

Gil is determined to challenge their superstitions. Surely returning to the village with a lynx will show them he is ready to join the hunters as an adult.

But when Gil finds his village is not as he left it, he wonders if his lynx is responsible.

Young Adult Romance & Drama Elephant on My Chest

He's the vile boy next door. Who also knows her biggest secret.

Sixteen-year-old Izzy is excited about the all-school ski trip. She is looking forward to learning to ski, even if she will be the only one on the bunny hill. Of course, she has to first make it through a five-hour bus ride with the vilest—albeit cutest—boy in school. And survive the roommates who keep breaking her one rule: "No sleeping with your boyfriend in my bed!"

When an unexpected power outage triggers a panic attack, Izzy is forced to tell Pug her biggest secret. She's even more surprised to learn his, spending the rest of the long weekend looking at her enemy in a new light.

But their secrets are nothing compared to the one Izzy's mother has been keeping for sixteen years. When Izzy discovers the truth, she must learn to confront her panic disorder or else live with the elephant sitting on her chest.

Warning: This book describes panic attacks. If this will trigger you, this book may not be for you.

Camp Piquaqua

Ana has the perfect job. Unfortunately, it means working with TJ.

We quickly huddled together, burying our heads under our bags. I lost track of time under the table with TJ's arm around me, shielding me from the storm. I was surprised that this annoying creature could make me feel so safe. I squeezed my eyes shut as a barrage of unfamiliar noises assaulted my ears and wondered whether I would ever open them again.

Seventeen-year-old Ana cannot wait for summer, when she gets to co-lead the overnight hikes at her uncle's family camp. Sure, it means working with her brother-in-law, TJ, a boy her age whom she cannot stand. But, she is willing to put aside their differences in order to have a fantastic summer. When tragedy strikes, Ana and TJ must work together, with the help of the legendary piquaqua bird, to help restore the camp in time for summer.

Becoming Birgit

When I went to bed, I dreamt that a girl slightly younger than I was sitting at my desk in my room, writing in her reflections journal. Her unkempt hair reached halfway down her back and her head was bowed low to the desk as she wrote feverishly. After a moment, the girl looked up and her soft brown eyes caught sight of me. She put down her pen, closed her journal, and stood, turning to face me. As she handed me her journal, she spoke in a quiet, pleading voice.

"I know you don't think much of me now," she began. "But, my writing is immature. Give me a chance to grow before you make your decision."

She was gone in the blink of an eye and I was left standing in the middle of my room with the journal in my hand.

When Birgit discovers an old diary, she assumes reading it will help her identify the author. As she delves deeper into the journal, however, she receives the guidance to learn more about herself and her Catholic identity than she ever anticipated.

A New Home A Hartfield Chronicles Prequel

How can anyone have fun living at school?

First, my parents tell me they want to send me to a private high school. Despite my protests, they insist I will find it more challenging and be less bored in class. Just as I'm warming up to the idea, they drop their bombshell.

The school is two hours away from home!

That's right. My parents want me to live at school. I don't want to go. But they're not giving me a choice.

I have to leave behind my best friends to build a new life at my new school. Will I be able to build a new family? Or will homesickness get the better of me?

Lesson 1:
Adjusting to a New Life

Melinda knew adjusting to high school would be difficult. But will she flunk out before she even has a chance?

Two hours away from home, Melinda quickly learns that her new boarding school is much more challenging than her public middle school. Her new friends and teacher must become her family. But Melinda never expected the assignments to be this difficult. How will she have time to make new friends if she's constantly studying?

And then there's the boys. For the first time in her life, boys are interested in her as more than a friend. But, will she even have a chance to have a relationship? Or will the coursework become so overwhelming that she will fail out before she has the chance?

When an old friend re-enters her life, Melinda must learn how to balance school with her social life if she wants to succeed at Hartfield.

When you finish reading Melinda's story, flip the book over to read Pat's story.

Patrick McGregor is one of the most recognized faces in Hollywood. But sometimes, he just wants to be a normal sixteen-year-old.

Pat thought missing the beginning of the school year to film a new movie on location in Hawaii sounded ideal. But, for the first time in his life, his family isn't around to keep him company. A demanding film schedule and lackadaisical tutor don't help combat the homesickness.

When a family member falls ill, Pat must examine the true meaning of family.

Innocent BystanderA Hartfield Chronicles Short

Eliot just wanted to play a new game. Who knew his life was about to change?

The first week of high school hasn't been easy for Eliot. He hardly gets to see his friends anymore. So when his best friend invites him to play a new RPG, Eliot is excited.

Except, Eliot never realized they would be playing for real. And then the cops arrive.

This short story accompaniment to Hartfield Chronicles shows how being in the wrong place at the wrong time lands Eliot in Oakville.

Cozy Mystery PS: It Was Murder

She wanted to learn how her best friend died. Falling for the grieving brother wasn't part of the plan.

Penpals since the age of 11, Katie and Lisa have been best friends more than half their lives. So when Katie learns that Lisa has died falling off the lighthouse cliffs, she naturally drops everything to pay her final respects. That's when she meets Lisa's grieving brother.

Over the past decade, Jeff has lost both parents and his sister. Now he just wants to move on. His family home contains too many painful reminders of what he's lost. He can't wait to sell it and get out of town.

But Katie isn't ready to let go. Lisa loved the lighthouse cliffs and knew when they were unsafe. The more Katie thinks about it, the more she can't help wondering if Lisa's death wasn't an accident and perhaps the answers lie in Lisa's unfinished novel. Even Jeff agrees that an accident seems unlikely.

Someone, however, wants them to let Lisa rest in peace. But intimidating death threats only encourage Katie and bring closer to each other as they race to discover the truth about Lisa's death before they become the next victims.

One Night In Sedona

Who would have thought that a single photograph would be so dangerous?

Photofest. The ultimate photography convention. Not only is Seddy finally able to attend, but this year, it is being held in the city for which she was named. And she cannot wait.

No sooner does she check into the conference when a murder interrupts her night on the town with a new friend. Shaken, Seddy just wants to put the incident behind her.

But someone has other ideas. After attending her first day of workshops, Seddy discovers her hotel room has been ransacked. Her new love interest seems very eager to help her while the local detective keeps asking her questions about her camera. To make matters worse, the chief of police keeps giving her strange looks. 

And then someone tries to kill her.

As she works out whom she can trust, Seddy realizes she may hold the one piece of evidence that could help solve the mystery. 

Romance & Romantic Suspense Mooncrossed

One dedicated doctor. One playboy pilot. Is the moon still romantic when you're stuck orbiting it with your estranged best friend?

In the year 2093, Captain Jason Tyler, one of the best pilots in the fleet, has been selected to run the daily transport shuttles to the surface of the moon. His charismatic personality and mesmerizing smile charms everyone around him. Except for the one person who matters the most.

Doctor Anika Verde has managed to earn dual medical degrees and be the chief medical technician by the age of thirty. Excited about her new position as the only medic on the new space station orbiting the moon, she loves the idea that being six hours away from the nearest hospital gives frontier medicine a new meaning.

Once upon a time, Anika and Tyler were inseparable. Now, she can't stand to be in the same room as him and he has no idea why. When missing medical supplies, construction accidents, and deadly viruses force these former friends to work together, will they be able to put aside their differences, or are they destined to be mooncrossed?

Kayaks, Kisses & Monsters

A summer of kayaking sounds perfect. Until the lake monster appears.

For Ellie, getting paid to spend her summer outside sounds like the ideal internship, even if it means paddling up and down a river twelve hours a day. Sure, she's never actually been in a kayak before, but how hard could it be?

At least she knows how to set up camp at night. Unlike her co-worker. Though Clay may be captain of the crew team, she could teach him a thing or two about spending the night in a sleeping bag. 

And then there's the whole lake monster thing. Of course, Ellie knows water monsters aren't real but Clay doesn't seem convinced, especially after a boater goes missing. When mysterious accidents threaten her job security, Ellie starts to wonder why the "monster" wants her gone.

This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
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What's new with Ashleigh?

Happy Friday. Can you believe it’s nearly May? I apologize for missing my last newsletter. This month has completely gotten away from me.

As you know, I recently returned to working full time. The past week has been particularly difficult, trying to rewrite my lesson plans to include my in-class tutor. Throw in three interviews for next year, two dance competitions, and a karate tournament, and I really have had no idea what day it is.

Not that I’m complaining. I am enjoying my time in the classroom. Even my more challenging students. And we are still finding time for family activites.

This weekend, we went to the amusement park. We told the children we were going to our religious education class. It took nearly 20 minutes for the first one to say "It doesn't usually take this long to get there." About 20 minutes later, they expected us to turn around. It wasn't until we pulled into the parking lot that they realized where we were going. And they had a ball. It was a much needed Family Fun Day.

What about you? Follow the conversation on Bluesky Follow the conversation on Facebook Follow the conversation on Instagram

Now, since I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, I am sending the same What's New with Ashleigh to each of ny newsletters this week. So, if you receive multiple emails, you may want to scroll down to the free reads and deals tomorrow.

Free Books

Free Book

Kayaks, Kisses & Monsters

A summer of kayaking sounds perfect. Until the lake monster appears.

For Ellie, getting paid to spend her summer outside sounds like the ideal internship, even if it means paddling up and down a river twelve hours a day. Sure, she's never actually been in a kayak before, but how hard could it be?

At least she knows how to set up camp at night. Unlike her co-worker. Though Clay may be captain of the crew team, she could teach him a thing or two about spending the night in a sleeping bag.

And then there's the whole lake monster thing. Of course, Ellie knows water monsters aren't real but Clay doesn't seem convinced, especially after a boater goes missing. When mysterious accidents threaten her job security, Ellie starts to wonder why the "monster" wants her gone.

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on Kindle Unlimited

Mending Lives
Camden's Healing Touch

When Hannah Thompson flees to her hometown of Camden, Maine, after a bitter divorce and a dead-end job, she expects to find a quiet refuge and a chance to care for her ailing mother. But what she doesn’t expect is to find a mystery waiting for her in the attic: an old teddy bear with a love letter hidden in its pocket.

Can Hannah solve the mystery of the teddy bear and find true love? Can she mend her relationship with her mother? And can she heal her own broken heart? Mending Lives is a heartwarming romance novel about second chances, small towns, and hidden secrets.

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This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
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What's new with Ashleigh?

Happy Thursday. Can you believe it’s nearly May? I apologize for missing my last newsletter. This month has completely gotten away from me.

As you know, I recently returned to working full time. The past week has been particularly difficult, trying to rewrite my lesson plans to include my in-class tutor. Throw in three interviews for next year, two dance competitions, and a karate tournament, and I really have had no idea what day it is.

Not that I’m complaining. I am enjoying my time in the classroom. Even my more challenging students. And we are still finding time for family activites.

This weekend, we went to the amusement park. We told the children we were going to our religious education class. It took nearly 20 minutes for the first one to say "It doesn't usually take this long to get there." About 20 minutes later, they expected us to turn around. It wasn't until we pulled into the parking lot that they realized where we were going. And they had a ball. It was a much needed Family Fun Day.

What about you? Follow the conversation on Bluesky Follow the conversation on Facebook Follow the conversation on Instagram

Now, since I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, I am sending the same What's New with Ashleigh to each of ny newsletters this week. So, if you receive multiple emails, you may want to scroll down to the free reads and deals tomorrow.

Free Books

Free Story

The Invisible Cipher

IN A WORLD WHERE DANGER HIDES IN CODES, NEIL MUST SECRETLY DECIPHER THE TRUTH AND STOP A DEADLY PLAN

No one expects danger in a Midwest farm town. But when you’re down on your luck, you’re a walking target.
Neil Gatlin wants nothing more than to return home to Indiana and girlfriend, Sunshine. But with truck problems and little money, Neil enters a pool game and misreads the cues. His win becomes a trap and he’s wrongly accused of a crime he didn’t commit.
Imprisoned, Neil’s troubled past, and the lies that entangled him, must be exposed. Working to secure his freedom, Neil discovers coded messages. The only one with the skills to decipher a deadly plan by hardened criminals; Neil must code his responses and hide his intensions or be killed.
As tensions rise and dangers increase, Neil doesn’t know who to trust. But time is running out. If Neil chooses to save others, he may never see freedom and Sunshine again.
If you like Elizabeth Gooddard’s Never Let Go, Helena Marchmont’s Bunburry Cosy Mysteries or Hope Callaghan’s Savannah Mysteries, then you’ll love The Invisible Cipher.
As the code becomes clear, Neil realizes doing what’s right may cost him his life. Click the GET THIS STORY button above and enter Neil’s world today.

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Murder at the Harvest Field
A Small Town Friends Culinary Cozy Mystery Series with Recipes

When a body is discovered in the middle of a vineyard's harvest festival, winemaker Avery Parker must put down her glass of vino to pick up the clues.

With a dangerous murderer potentially lurking around in her small town of Los Robles, California, the once-peaceful community is thrown into turmoil.

Can Avery channel her amateur sleuth skills to crack the case? Along with her detective boyfriend Charles and canine companion, Sprinkles, by her side, she starts examining the victim’s past and piecing together the final moments of his life.

The clock is ticking as the close-knit town hangs in the balance.

Grab a bottle of your favorite vintage and get ready for a killer read filled with secrets, twists, and red herrings galore in Murder at the Harvest Field.

Wine pairings and irresistible recipes included!

Scroll up and grab your copy today!

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This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
. What's new with Ashleigh? Hartfield Chronicles Free Books Other Books on Sale Join My Newsletters

What's new with Ashleigh?

Happy Wednesday. Can you believe it’s nearly May? I apologize for missing my last newsletter. And for sending this so late. This month has completely gotten away from me.

As you know, I recently returned to working full time. The past week has been particularly difficult, trying to rewrite my lesson plans to include my in-class tutor. Throw in three interviews for next year, two dance competitions, and a karate tournament, and I really have had no idea what day it is.

Not that I’m complaining. I am enjoying my time in the classroom. Even my more challenging students. And we are still finding time for family activites.

This weekend, we went to the amusement park. We told the children we were going to our religious education class. It took nearly 20 minutes for the first one to say "It doesn't usually take this long to get there." About 20 minutes later, they expected us to turn around. It wasn't until we pulled into the parking lot that they realized where we were going. And they had a ball. It was a much needed Family Fun Day.

What about you? Follow the conversation on Bluesky Follow the conversation on Facebook Follow the conversation on Instagram

Now, since I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, I am sending the same What's New with Ashleigh to each of ny newsletters this week. So, if you receive multiple emails, you may want to scroll down to the free reads and deals tomorrow.

Hartfield Chronicles

Hartfield Chronicles follows the lives of Melinda, Pat, and their friends as they navigate their way through boarding school life.

Each episode features two stories, one from Melinda's point of view and one from Pat's, along with an excerpt from Melinda's writing journal.

New episodes are published every Wednesday.

Start at
the Beginning Beginning of
Season 6 Episode 168
A hiking trip doesn't go exactly as planned when Pat and Melinda get lost Free Books

Free Story

Camp Piquaqua

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS OF NEW ENGLAND
2021 BOOK AWARD FINALIST

Ana has the perfect job. Unfortunately, it means working with TJ.

We quickly huddled together, burying our heads under our bags. I lost track of time under the table with TJ's arm around me, shielding me from the storm. I was surprised that this annoying creature could make me feel so safe. I squeezed my eyes shut as a barrage of unfamiliar noises assaulted my ears and wondered whether I would ever open them again.

Seventeen-year-old Ana cannot wait for summer, when she gets to co-lead the overnight hikes at her uncle's family camp. Sure, it means working with her brother-in-law, TJ, a boy her age whom she cannot stand. But, she is willing to put aside their differences in order to have a fantastic summer. When tragedy strikes, Ana and TJ must work together, with the help of the legendary piquaqua bird, to help restore the camp in time for summer.

Want more free books? Check out these giveaways!

Other Books on Sale

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Becoming Birgit

When I went to bed, I dreamt that a girl slightly younger than I was sitting at my desk in my room, writing in her reflections journal. Her unkempt hair reached halfway down her back and her head was bowed low to the desk as she wrote feverishly. After a moment, the girl looked up and her soft brown eyes caught sight of me. She put down her pen, closed her journal, and stood, turning to face me. As she handed me her journal, she spoke in a quiet, pleading voice.

"I know you don't think much of me now," she began. "But, my writing is immature. Give me a chance to grow before you make your decision."

She was gone in the blink of an eye and I was left standing in the middle of my room with the journal in my hand.

When Birgit discovers an old diary, she assumes reading it will help her identify the author. As she delves deeper into the journal, however, she receives the guidance to learn more about herself and her Catholic identity than she ever anticipated.

You may also be interested in these books Check Out My Books

This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
What's new with Ashleigh? Free Books Other Books on Sale Join My Newsletters

What's new with Ashleigh?

Happy Wednesday. Can you believe it’s nearly May? I apologize for missing my last newsletter. And for sending this so late. This month has completely gotten away from me.

As you know, I recently returned to working full time. The past week has been particularly difficult, trying to rewrite my lesson plans to include my in-class tutor. Throw in three interviews for next year, two dance competitions, and a karate tournament, and I really have had no idea what day it is.

Not that I’m complaining. I am enjoying my time in the classroom. Even my more challenging students. And we are still finding time for family activites.

This weekend, we went to the amusement park. We told the children we were going to our religious education class. It took nearly 20 minutes for the first one to say "It doesn't usually take this long to get there." About 20 minutes later, they expected us to turn around. It wasn't until we pulled into the parking lot that they realized where we were going. And they had a ball. It was a much needed Family Fun Day.

What about you? Follow the conversation on Bluesky Follow the conversation on Facebook Follow the conversation on Instagram

Now, since I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, I am sending the same What's New with Ashleigh to each of ny newsletters this week. So, if you receive multiple emails, you may want to scroll down to the free reads and deals tomorrow.

Free Books

Free Short Story

Arctic Lynx
An Arctic Druid Short Story

Can a single hunting trip change the future of an entire village?

After a week of hunting, Gil spots an arctic lynx. No one in his village has ever killed one. They believe doing so would bring bad luck.

Gil is determined to challenge their superstitions. Surely returning to the village with a lynx will show them he is ready to join the hunters as an adult.

But when Gil finds his village is not as he left it, he wonders if his lynx is responsible.

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Blood of a Fallen God
The addictive fantasy epic begins...

Unveiling the Spellbinding Beginning to a Breathtaking Epic Fantasy Saga: Blood of a Fallen God

In the shadows of ancient gods and the glimmer of divine possibility, ‘Blood of a Fallen God” weaves a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the unyielding pursuit of destiny. William Reis, born of a lineage scorned and hidden, embarks on a forbidden journey to resurrect the forgotten arts of the Forgemaster, wielding powers bestowed by the gods themselves. In a world where the smith's hammer shapes the fate of empires, William's quest to join the prestigious Smithing Guild is more than a mere ambition; it's a battle for survival and legacy.

Stealing into the cursed Mistlands, William procures a shard of the god Amder's essence, setting into motion a chain of events that will challenge the very foundations of power in Alos. Alongside his cousin Duncan, a relic hunter with secrets of his own, William crafts a masterpiece that promises entry into the guild. Yet, as ancient forces stir in the shadows, the cousins find themselves ensnared in a web of political intrigue, divine machinations, and dark curses that threaten to unleash chaos upon the world.

From the hidden forges of the Reach to the opulent halls of Ture, William and Duncan must navigate a world where gods whisper in the ears of mortals, and the lines between ally and enemy blur. With the priesthood seeking to erase his bloodline and a high priestess of the Blood God manipulating fate, William's journey is fraught with peril. But the revival of Amder, the God of Craft, offers a glimmer of hope—if William can embrace his destiny as the last Forgemaster."Blood of a Fallen God" is a riveting odyssey of magic, intrigue, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

As William battles to save his cousin and resurrect a god, he must also confront the ultimate question: what is the price of divine power, and can it forge a new destiny for a world on the brink of destruction?

Join My Newsletters Check Out My Books

This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
What's new with Ashleigh? Free Books Other Books on Sale Join My Newsletters

What's new with Ashleigh?

This is a very busy time of year for our family. Earlier this week, I mentioned some of our favorite traditions, new and old. However, no Easter would be complete without our favorite tradition: the egg hunt.

As a child, we spent every Easter at my grandparent's house. They lived on about an acre of land, so there was plenty of room to hide plastic eggs. I think we were told we could only find a certain number, but that may be something I started when I had children of my own. The eggs were filled with chocolate eggs and jelly beans and other candies that I stopped enjoying long ago.

We would also participate in egg hunts at my church or the town green. We would stand behind a starting line while the adults threw chocolate eggs all over the grass. I remember the first time I saw that, I was disappointed. My relatives took such care hiding the plastic eggs, why couldn't they? (Of course, there were a lot more children at these public hunts, but at six, I didn't understand that.) However, there was no limit to the amount of candy we could find and my brother and I always competed to see who could get the most.

I cannot remember the origins of this tradition with my own children. I just remember one year, we started hiding plastic eggs. One year, we tried ones that had been prefilled with toys. The children were very disappointed and we vowed never to do that again. One year it was a scavenger hunt, where they children had to find a certain number of each colored egg (three blue, two pink, one gold, etc). I think the Easter bunny did an egg hunt one year. That was the year we got a new camper and it took the kids a while to find the eggs hidden in it.

Last year, we had Easter at my brother-in-law's and I volunteered to do a hunt for all the cousins. My kids helped me fill eggs. I kept one empty of each color and the kids all drew them from a basket. That was the color egg they had to search for. Since my eldest niece is in college, she volunteered to hide the eggs and the little kids had a lot of fun looking for them all. We all got in on the fun when we lost an egg. (Still never found it!)

This year, my kids insisted on another hunt. I put my middle daughter in charge of it. She helped pick out the candy: a different kind for each kid. We bought the jumbo plastic eggs and picked out stickers to mark each child's eggs. We're bringing them to their grandparents' house to do after Easter dinner. As for who's hiding them? We're not sure.

One year, we had the children hide each other's eggs. We're thinking of doing that again. Or maybe Daddy or a grandparent will hide them. We may do it inside or outside. The possibilites are numerous and I'm looking forward to this tradition.

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Davin
The Sabela Series Prequel

She needed a friend more than a lover - would he understand?

They say laughter is good for the soul. Something that had been lacking in Sabela's life since her father suddenly passed away.
Davin was smooth and spoiled, not her type but he made her laugh and she had grown fond of him quickly since their unexpected encounter but she didn't love him and didn't know if she ever could. Would Davin understand?
He had made a life-changing proposal to her but what was his alternative motive she wondered?
Everything was moving so fast and Sabela could see vast changes happening in her life in the near future but only if Davin accepted her terms. She had her doubts that he could.
This is the prequel to the Sabela series plus chapter one from Slater, book one in the series.
A steamy suspense romance series with lots of twists that will keep you guessing until the end.

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Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café
A Furrever Friends Sweet Romance

What do you do when you meet the guy of your dreams? Set him up with your sister, of course.

Kari doesn't have time for love when she's opening her new cat café. Renovating an old restaurant, hiring employees, fighting with the health inspector – oh, and welcoming 16 shelter cats – keeps her plenty busy. She's doing this for the cats, the community, and most of all her family. The café will give her sister, Marley, a job worthy of her baking skills. Then a tattooed military vet wanders in claiming to be a master baker himself. The café doesn't need another baker, but maybe Marley needs a man. Surely she'll fall for a guy this sweet, this sexy, this tasty.

Colin has other ideas. It's Kari who makes him want to pour on the sugar and turn up the heat. But he's spent the last two years recovering from physical and psychological wounds. Is he really ready for a relationship? He's not even sure he should commit to Samson, the fluffy marshmallow of a cat who steals his heart.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. If you enjoy the friends to lovers trope, work romances, military heroes, and strong heroines completely failing at playing the matchmaker, check out Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café. You'll also find rescue cats with plenty of personality and their own desire for love.

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This week's newsletter contains the following features:
(Feel free to skip ahead to what you want to read)
. What's new with Ashleigh? Free Books Other Books on Sale Join My Newsletters

What's new with Ashleigh?

This is a very busy time of year for our family. Earlier this week, I mentioned how our Easter traditions begin on Palm Sunday and continue on Good Friday. This year, we are introducing many new traditions.

About a month ago, my three oldest children became altar servers. This year, they were invited to participate in the Triduum and Easter services. While we have attended some of these haphazardly over the years, the children do not remember much except the year our neighbor was one of the participants in the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday.

One of my children didn't really want to participate in any of the services except Sunday. Another wanted to do more but was limited by her dance schedule. However, she participated in the Passion service on Good Friday with her sister, who volunteered for all four services.

While I volunteered to remain home with the younger children, my husband attended the Friday evening service and will attend the Saturday night one. I'm hoping my children will continue to serve these services for the next several years and eventually this will become a tradition. I'm looking forward to attending as a family when the younger children are old enough.

My mother introduced a new family tradition this year. While she has done it before, and I believe my youngest has also participated, it was my first time attending the Blessing of the Easter meal. My mother started several days early, having the children bake the traditional braided egg bread and some cookies. She packaged them in baskets and met us at the church on Saturday morning. The children carried their baskets inside and laid them on the altar. I was surprised by how many people participated in this traditon! And so many families. It was heartwarming to see.

The service was short and we were soon collecting the baskets. My mother took the children to the nearby homeless shelter to donate some of the bread and cookies. I have fallen in love with this tradition and it is definitely one we will continue. I can't wait to share it with my own grandchildren.

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Midnight Deadline

He's dead at midnight...
Unless she saves him.

Sergeant A. J. Lozione is the consummate professional who gives her all to every assignment. But this is no ordinary kidnapping case.

She’s tasked with rescuing Harrison City’s wealthiest resident, a man whose philanthropic generosity makes most people excuse his philandering behavior. But A. J. can’t forgive his wandering ways or the fact that he broke her heart years ago. She’s the only woman who turned her nose up at his money, his adulterous ways, and his presumed entitlement.

The kidnapper’s deadline is midnight.

Will she save Tobias Benjamin Amanscott even though she wants him dead?

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Booked for Murder
A Balefire Bay Cozy Mystery

She is a mystery. He is a recluse who writes mysteries. Are they a perfect match or a recipe for murder?

Ivy Kelly is on the run and searching for refuge in the small town of Balefire Bay on the Oregon Coast. But when she arrives, she finds more than just a safe haven. Someone has died and one of her new friends could be the killer. On top of that, the people hunting Ivy want her to disappear permanently.

Ivy isn't on the run long before she meets Aggie, a knitter, book club member, true crime sleuth, and part owner of Balefire Bay's Book and Tea Shop. Aggie introduces Ivy to a reclusive author who offers Ivy the possibility of a new life that includes a dream job working in a library that looks like a mashup of Downton Abbey and Hogwarts. With a new life comes a new mystery, as Ivy finds herself enmeshed in a murder that the town is determined to keep a secret.

Is Ivy's new employer a possible love interest or a stone-cold killer? As her past collides with her present, Ivy must risk everything to uncover the secrets of Balefire Bay. Join Ivy on this thrilling journey and find out who she really is and who wants her gone.

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What's new with Ashleigh?

This is a very busy time of year for our family. The other day, I mentioned how our Easter traditions begin on Palm Sunday. Well, they continue on Good Friday when we dye our Easter eggs.

When I was a child, my mother would spend a couple of days during Lent hollowing eggs. It involved a sewing needle, a large bowl, and a lot of time and patience. Then one night (probably well before Good Friday, knowing my mother), we would dye the eggs. Sometimes we added the shrinkwrap and/or stickers. Some years we bought the glitter paint that went on the eggs. When the eggs were dry, my mother would display them on the kitchen table along with all the ones from previous years that had not cracked. The beauty of hollow eggs were that they could last for years.

When I was in second or third grade, I was sitting at lunch one day when one of my classmates pulled out an egg she had dyed for Easter. I was fascinated that she could eat the eggs she had dyed. Until that moment, I had never known it was an option! (Then again, at the time, no one in my family actually ate hard-boiled eggs.)

Of course, my husband grew up with the hard-boiled egg tradition. And he eats them. So when we had a family of our own, we dyed hard-boiled eggs. Somewhere along the way, the tradition became dying eggs on Good Friday. And, because my children make a mess, we always do it on the floor. To me, that was common sense, but my in-laws found it strange the one year we did eggs at my brother-in-law's house.

I boil the eggs early, either in the morning or maybe on Thursday or Wednesday. Then Friday night, we lay the craft tablecloth on the kitchen floor (it's the same one we use for carving pumpkins and painting Christmas ornaments). We have lots of dye cups, egg dippers, and wax crayons. While I mix the colors, the kids (and Mr. Stevens) write on their eggs. Then, they get to color the eggs.

The younger ones will stick with one color and are usually done in a few minutes. As they get older, though, the kids have learned to use multiple colors. Sometimes they color the entire egg in a few colors to create a unique shade. Other times, they dye part of the egg at a time to create a striped effect. They are very creative and I love seeing their creations each year.

One year, I hope to introduce my children to hollow eggs. But since they enjoy eating their eggs, I don't think they will mind learning it later in life.

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Hartfield Chronicles

Hartfield Chronicles follows the lives of Melinda, Pat, and their friends as they navigate their way through boarding school life.

Each episode features two stories, one from Melinda's point of view and one from Pat's, along with an excerpt from Melinda's writing journal.

New episodes are published every Wednesday.

Start at
the Beginning Beginning of
Season 6 Episode 164
Pat & Melinda prepare for a triple date Free Books

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Pariah's Lament
An epic fantasy story full of intrigue, action, discovery and love.

So often it’s the forgotten who possess the power to change the world.

When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it. With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighboring kingdom Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara’s brittle reign?

The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned?

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Diary of a 9th Grade "D" Cup
Growing Up Girls

Kate is embarking into a great unknown - HIGH SCHOOL! Will it be the new start she hopes for?

Growing UP was hard for Katie. Throughout middle school, she was teased and tormented for her crime of being the first one in class to get a bra. From then on, she was labeled as the girl with the "boobs." But now as Kate, high school provides an opportunity for a clean slate and a new world with different kids and endless opportunities to remake her image and start from scratch as just another teen. Diary of 9th Grade "D" Cup continues Kate's journey into the new realm of high school finding a new set of rules, trials and triumphs with boys, school and preparing for the world of adulthood, Will she find her new stronger and wiser self a match for high school? The Growing UP Girls series of books celebrates and chronicles the trials and triumphs of middle and lower high school girls 10-16 who are just trying to grow up with as few scars as possible, despite a school of teasers, mean girls, dumb boys and bullies.

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This week's newsletter contains the following features:
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What's new with Ashleigh?

This is a very busy time of year for our family. Our Easter traditions begin on Palm Sunday. When I was a child, we would go to Mass and receive our palm. Then we would go to my grandparents' house. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would all meet us there. We exchanged palm leaves with each family member, young and old. No one has ever been able to explain why we did this, except that it was an Italian tradition. Personally, I think my grandmother (or maybe her mother before her) invented teh tradition as a way to ensure her adult children attended Mass. After all, it wasn't like they could just go pick up a palm leaf at the grocery store. (And they don't grow on the trees here in Southern New England.)

We don't do this anymore. My grandparents have passed and my family has scattered. But it is definitely a tradition I intend to resurrect when my own children leave home.

My husband grew up with a different Palm Sunday tradition. He places a leaf behind each crucifix in the house. He has taught our children to do this and they rush to complete the task as soon as we get home on Palm Sunday. This is a tradition I hope the continue to celebrate with their children.

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Arctic Lynx
An Arctic Druid Short Story

Can a single hunting trip change the future of an entire village?

After a week of hunting, Gil spots an arctic lynx. No one in his village has ever killed one. They believe doing so would bring bad luck.

Gil is determined to challenge their superstitions. Surely returning to the village with a lynx will show them he is ready to join the hunters as an adult.

But when Gil finds his village is not as he left it, he wonders if his lynx is responsible.

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Super Hec
The Anderson Chronicles

Spring is coming. The Anderson family decides to get in shape, and Stevie decides he wants to be a triangle. Hector Anderson has no idea what should do until his friend Eddie loans him an old Superman t-shirt. When the guys in the locker room call him Super Geek, Hec decides to become faster than a speeding bully. Can he dig deep and pull up the super powers he needs to run a 5K and win the heart of the girl of his dreams?If you’ve read Tweet Sarts and Jingle Night, you’ll love seeing what Hec and his wacky family are up to in Super Hec, the third book in the Anderson Family Chronicles.

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What's new with Ashleigh?

Happy Monday. I know, I know. You were expecting to hear from me on Friday, right? A million apologies, but my life has been a little crazy.

Remember in my last newsletter, I mentioned how things in my life were a little crazy? Well, because of the whole ice-skating debacle last time, I didn't get to share my news with you.

I went back to work!

That right. Due to a number of circumstances, we decided I should return to working full-time. In a previous life, I was a classroom teacher. My intention was to substitute teach per diem for the rest of the school year while applying to positions for next school year. That would give me a chance to figure out what to do with my homeschooled children.

However, an opportunity arose that sounded perfect. I applied for the position without expected to hear from the school. I had even forgotten about it when I received a phone call from the principal a few days later. We spoke for about an hour and by the end he more or less had offered me the job. Of course, he needed to see me teach a sample lesson and get approval from the district, but he told me from the beginning he wanted me and really wasn't looking at any other candidates.

As fantastic as that was to hear, I hadn't expected things to move so quickly. He wanted me to start immediately, as his current teacher was leaving in less than two weeks. That gave me only a few days to figure out how to continue homeschooling my children for the remainder of the school year. (We hired a nanny.)

It took a little time for my background check to clear, but this past Wednesday they threw me to the wolves. Well, middle-schoolers. I went from being a stay-at-home mom to working full-time in a classroom, teaching 5 math classes a day. And frankly, this was not the best week to start.

Don't get me wrong. I love my new school. But this weekend was my daughter's first competition of the season. Add the extra practices this week to the new job, and I have been just exhausted.

I'd like to say things will get better, but this new page in my life is definitely going to take some adjusting. So, while I will try to send out these newsletters every two weeks, they may run a few days late for the next month or two.

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Moonlight in Mexico
A short mildly steamy, feel good romance you can read in your lunchbreak.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet up with your high school crush years later?

Oliver Macfarlane, Megan’s older brother is still as handsome and desirable as he was when Jennifer had her embarrassing crush on him in high school. Years later they are brought together again at Megan’s wedding. Only Jennifer is not the awkward teenage girl she was back then.

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Assigned
Navy Seals of Little Creek Book 3

How can she become a new version of herself when she's married to her past?

After two of his buddies found love through the military's matchmaking program, Lucas Craiger decides to give it a shot. He's not necessarily looking for love, just companionship and a kind, reliable stepmom for his young son. When he's assigned to his high school sweetheart who shattered his heart, his plan for an uncomplicated relationship becomes acutely complicated.

Riley Thompson signed up for the matchmaking program because she needs a fresh start—and the health insurance. She desperately wants to build a life with a man where her autoimmune disease doesn't define her and she can prove herself. But being matched with Lucas isn't the new beginning she wanted. He's the love of her life she let go when she was first diagnosed.

Lucas is determined to make the most of this second chance with Riley, but when his custody battle heats up, his new marriage isn't the only relationship in jeopardy.

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