My Golden Ever After

by Erin Bedford

A hilariously delicious Beauty and the Beast retelling with a vampiric twist.

Mara came to Candiopolis chasing wonder. Instead, one desperate bargain chained her to Rumpelstiltskin for life.

But everything changes the day she accidentally saves Blackthorn—the most feared vampire in the Candy Forest. He steals her away to his licorice palace, calling it protection. She calls it kidnapping.

Now Mara is torn between the people she spent years protecting…and the monstrous, clueless vampire who would burn the forest down just to keep her.

Choose him and abandon the ones who have no one else.

Walk away and lose the only love she’s ever tasted.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Erin Bedford is an otaku, recovering coffee addict, and Legend of Zelda fanatic. Her brain is so full of stories that need to be told that she must get them out or explode into a million screaming chibis. Obsessed with fairy tales and bad boys, she hasn’t found a story she can’t twist to match her deviant mind full of innuendos, snarky humor, and dream guys.

On the outside, she’s a work from home mom and bookbinger. One the inside, she’s a thirteen-year-old boy screaming to get out and tell you the pervy joke they found online. As an ex-computer programmer, she dreams of one day combining her love for writing and college credits to make the ultimate video game!

Until then, when she’s not writing, Erin is devouring as many books as possible on her quest to have the biggest book gut of all time. She’s written over thirty books, ranging from paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and even scifi romance.

Also, third person is really weird when writing about yourself. Just putting that out there.

Come chat me up!
www.erinbedford.com
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Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment of the My... Ever After series is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a vampiric twist. The story follows Mara, who is bound to Rumpelstiltskin until she rescues Blackthorn, the Candy Forest’s most feared vampire. Taken to his licorice palace, Mara must choose between the protection of a vampire who adores her and returning to the people she has long shielded. This fresh take on a classic tale explores the compelling journey of two broken souls.I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read the other two books in the series, but this was an interesting twist on Rumplestiltsken. Mara is one of many stuck working in his slave shop, trapped my an unbreakable magic contract. While out trying to protect a child she saves Blackthorn having no idea the impact that would have. She and Blackthorn are two broken souls (perhaps not the right choice of words since he’s a vampire), but together perhaps they’ll heal what ails them.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira & Blackthorn
This is a good fairy tale twist on Rumplestiltsken, with him running a shop with slaves, and Mira is one of them. Blackthorn is a vampire, a character that I really liked in this short story. I especially liked Mira and Blackthorn together! I Loved It!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.