Hello Darlings! Just dropping in with a quick update. 

For those who aren't aware, I tore my ACL back in February. Along with some other injuries like bone contusions and a MCL sprain. That's not even counting the genetic deformities of that knee that affect its mechanics (but that's a story for another time.) With the joint being unstable, I've re-injured it three times now, which is incredibly painful and makes my knee swell up like a grapefruit. Not fun.

ACL reconstruction surgery is scheduled for April 12th. I'm not worried or nervous or anything like that, but I'm not looking forward to the recovery, either. In the meantime, I've been doing "prehab" with a physical therapist to ensure that my muscles are in good condition before surgery so I can heal faster afterwards. I've also had a slew of doctor appointments, tests, and pre-op screenings. Then, of course, just the general life stuff that comes with being an adult. 

With all of this going on, it's been hard to find the time or energy to write, so I'm a little behind schedule. This means Walking a Tight Trope won't be releasing in March, but you won't have to wait too long for it. I would really like to get it released before my surgery, so sometime in the second week of April. 

As soon as I'm able, I'll be diving back into Beauty and Bad Blood to get that finished and released. I don't really know when that will be right now. From experience, painkillers and writing do not mix, so it's kind of a wait-and-see game. Hopefully, I won't need to take more than a week off, though. 

Everyone please send positive vibes, and I'll check in with you soon! 

Until Next Time, 
​XoXo Arden

The past four-ish months have been...interesting. There were a lot of good things that happened. A trip to Orlando. A trip to Puerto Rico. A beautiful and extravagant wedding in Houston.

​(Not mine. I got married in a tiny church 20 years ago with less than a dozen people present. The entire thing, including my dress and the rings, cost less than $150.)

 
There was also some not so great stuff that happened. Depression, made worse by Seasonal Affective Disorder. A slipped lumbar disc. A torn LCL (that's the ligament on the outside of your knee.) And can we just talk about the price of eggs for a second?! I wanted to make an angel food cake, but I didn't want to take out a second mortgage. 

Beauty and Bad Blood is still coming. I will finish it. Just not yet. I know I said it would "definitely" be out in November, but well, here we are. Shortly after my last update, I just hit a wall. Ran smack into it like Wile E. Coyote.

This would be around the time I was having what my therapist likes to call a "Major Depressive Episode." 

At her suggestion, I did something I've never done before. I agreed to show myself the same grace and kindness I'd offer to any of my friends who are struggling. I also decided to try an experiment and just write whatever popped into my head. No matter what story, what series, whatever, I would just...write.

​A novel concept, I know. 

This resulted in 7 new story ideas, 4 new WIPs, one completed novella, and another that is almost finished. 

I am currently working on cleaning up Mr. Big Shot, Book 3 of the +One series, and it will be headed to my editor soon. I don't have an exact release date yet, but probably sometime within the next two weeks.

Then, I'll be wrapping up Walking a Tight Trope, the next book in the Blackhaven Manor series. More details on this later, but you can anticipate its release in March. (She says, knowing her track record with deadlines is shit.)

After that, I will be diving back into Beauty and Bad Blood with new enthusiasm. Now that the brain fog is lifting, I know exactly where I went wrong and what I need to do to move forward. I do not know when this book will release. I'm not even going to give an estimate. I feel like I jinx myself every time I do. 

I'm also not going to promise regular updates because, let's be honest, I suck at it. I will, however, definitely post once the books go live. You can also get a notification right to your inbox by subscribing to my newsletter. I'm lazy, and I only send out newsletters when I have a release or an event, so you will never be inundated with emails from me.

Until Next Time!
XoXo - Arden

It's here! It's finally here!! Pain in the Ice is now live on Amazon, and as always, free to read with your KU subscription!
​

​Thade Maddock would literally rather die than spend four weeks aboard a cruise ship with nine hundred strangers in the middle of the Pacific. When it happens to be his best friend’s dying request, however, he can’t exactly refuse the invitation. On the bright side, the ship’s pool does offer some stunning views. Like the human male with fiery red hair and a smile to rival the sun. 

Although he wouldn’t consider himself naïve, Micah Francis has led a rather insulated life. Having had limited contact with Otherlings and little knowledge about the paranormal world in general, meeting a dragon shifter his first day on the ship is nothing less than magical. Tall and brooding with a body made for sin, Thade is everything he had imagined a dragon would be. He didn’t, however, expect to feel so obsessively drawn to the guy after just one conversation. 

But falling in love is the easy part. When Thade’s friend begins to deteriorate quicker than anticipated, the demon’s illness places the entire ship in danger. As pandemonium ensues and a multitude of dark emotions infects the passengers, happily-ever-after feels a long way off. 
​
Because unless they can find a way to bring order to the madness, no one is making it out alive.

As a general rule, Thade didn’t stick his nose into other people’s business. He did what was necessary to enforce the guidelines at Blackhaven Manor, and he would never allow guests to mistreat his staff, but he didn’t go out of his way to play the hero. 

Every once in a while, however, he encountered a situation that required him to act, to be the protector he tried so hard to avoid. 

With his gaze hidden behind his dark sunglasses, he’d been watching the human male from the moment he’d stepped onto the deck. Beyond his vivid red hair, nothing about him made him stand out from the other guests, but Thade hadn’t been able to look away. 

His complexion went beyond fair and could only be described as pale, but with a smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks. Despite the considerable distance that separated them, and the way the newcomer squinted against the sun, Thade had no trouble discerning the stunning lime green of his irises. 

He had wondered why the guy didn’t just use the sunglasses perched atop his head. Then he realized he wasn’t the only one staring. Mr. Lean, Fair, and Freckled was checking him out, too, and judging by his increased heart rate, he liked what he saw. Thade wasn’t looking for love, but he wouldn’t mind passing a night or two with the beautiful stranger.

He had still been deciding on his next move when the guy’s attention had been drawn away by the female who had accompanied him onto the deck. Like a puff of smoke on the breeze, whatever connection that had passed between them vanished. That should have been the end of it, but Thade couldn’t resist the temptation to let his gaze linger a little longer.

With his eyes still hidden, he watched both humans, studying the way they interacted as he tried to ascertain the depth of their relationship.
​
It shouldn’t have mattered. He definitely shouldn’t have felt relief when he heard them mention the female’s fiancé. Yet he hadn’t been able to relax until he’d been satisfied that nothing romantic existed between them. He didn’t have a name for the feeling that had coursed through him in the lead-up to the revelation, but it had been foreign, uncomfortable, and he hoped to never experience it again.

Just a quick update to let you guys know that I'm still working on Beauty and Bad Blood. Life has just been kind of a mess lately. Not only have I been extremely busy, but it feels like March and most of April was just one disaster after another.

Lightning hit our house and destroyed a lot of electronics, including a brand new television. It also damaged some of the wiring, so we didn't have electricity to two rooms or our smoke detectors for a bit. Someone wrecked into our car in the parking lot and just drove off. The garage door stopped working. Two of our irrigation lines started leaking. Someone stole my credit card number AND my email address??? I could go on, but you get the idea. 

Things are still pretty hectic, but I'm carving out time to make some real progress on this book. My goal (plan? hope?) is to have Beauty and Bad Blood released by the end of May. This story is looking to be between 70-75k, so we'll see if I can make it happen, Cap'n. I'm also not sure if I will put this one on preorder or not. It'll largely depend on my editor's schedule, but I should know more in a couple of weeks. 

Until then, here's the cover and blurb! 

Silent Knight is here! Check out this special holiday addition to the Blackhaven Manor series. It's a fun, light romance with all of the feels and none of the angst.

​And as always, it's free to read with your KU subscription. 
​

Being part siren isn’t exactly a secret, but it’s not something Simon Russel likes to advertise, either. He’s not ashamed of who he is or anything so dramatic as that. But people tend to treat him differently once they realize he can manipulate their emotions. Just once, he wishes someone could see him and not the demon within.

Enter Archer Knight, a former Enforcer, and the newest guard at Blackhaven Manor.

Forced into retirement after a poorly executed mission leaves him damaged and disfigured, Archer figures he has a right to be a little bitter. With his scarred face and surly attitude, he’s not going to win any popularity contests, which suits him just fine, or so he tells himself.

Until he meets Simon.

Mix one not-so-chance encounter, a heap of holiday cheer, and a dash of misguided but well-meaning intentions in this recipe for Christmas magic. Season with love and serve with a side of awkward family get-togethers. 
​
Don’t forget the marshmallows.
​

And now for the update. You may have seen that I had another holiday story planned for the end of the month called A Merry Little Deja Vu. I don't really want to get into why, but this story isn't happening, at least not this year. Maybe next Christmas. 

Instead, a new Nocturne Bay book is up next. Since this was kind of a sudden change, I don't have a lot of details right now. I'm hoping to release it at the end of the month or the beginning of January, but I haven't settled on a firm release date, and obviously, no pre-order. This will be a solo release. To my knowledge, my co-authors don't have any books planned right at this moment. 

I'll post another update just as soon as I have a better handle on my schedule. 

Until then, I wish you all Happy Holidays! 

The 6th book of the Blackhaven Manor series is now live on Amazon and free to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription! 
​

It’s been twelve years since the Awakening. Otherlings are out of the paranormal closet. The whole world knows that creatures like vampires, werewolves, and witches exist. So, seeing dead people barely even rates on the freaky scale. Right?

Wrong.

Fritz Tolliver figures he must have done something terrible in a previous life to be afflicted with such a curse. In fact, every bad thing that has ever happened to him can be traced back to his unwanted ability. So, when a stupidly hot werewolf who’s way out of his league claims to be his mate, he should be thrilled. And he probably would have been if he hadn’t gone and gotten himself haunted by a nasty spirit on the same day.   

When a gorgeous male strolls into the station asking for a job—and promptly spills an entire Americano on him—Sheriff Vander Hale has a feeling it’s going to be a bad day. Then, the door opens, the wind shifts, and suddenly, his whole world changes. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his mate, no battle he wouldn’t wage, even if his enemy is technically already dead. Unfortunately, there’s just one problem with his plan.
​
He’d go to hell and back for Fritz, but how is he supposed to fight something he can’t see?  
​

Whew! It's been a wild ride, and I'm so excited to announce that the Nocturne Bay Series, co-authored with Aja Foxx, Dani Gray, and Lisa Oliver will be releasing November 14th!! 
​

Ryo Castle’s only goal in life is to be invisible. He’s spent years perfecting the art, never doing anything to draw attention to himself, and he’s grown quite content with being alone. So, he’s not entirely sure how he let himself be talked into attending a masquerade party for the opening of the new nightclub in town. It’ll probably be fine, though. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? 

With more than three hundred years to amass a considerable fortune, Andre Vasso lives a life of luxury and indulgence. Yet, he’s always felt that something was missing, some vital piece that would make his world complete. He just didn’t know what that was until a gorgeous mouse shifter with big green eyes literally falls at his feet. 

Ryo comes with more baggage than an airport carousel, but Andre doesn’t mind. No matter how long and winding the road, he’s determined to give his mate the life he deserves. But first, he’ll have to convince Ryo that the only thing standing in the way of their happily-ever-after is his own insecurities.

A task that might prove easier said than done. 
​

​I'm also ridiculously pleased to tell you that Dead Over Heels, the 6th book in the Blackhaven Manor series will be releasing on November 26th! 
​

It’s been twelve years since the Awakening. Otherlings are out of the paranormal closet. The whole world knows that creatures like vampires, werewolves, and witches exist. So, seeing dead people barely even rates on the freaky scale. Right?
 
Wrong.
 
Fritz Tolliver figures he must have done something terrible in a previous life to be afflicted with such a curse. In fact, every bad thing that has ever happened to him can be traced back to his unwanted ability. So, when a stupidly hot werewolf who’s way out of his league claims to be his mate, he should be thrilled. And he probably would have been if he hadn’t gone and gotten himself haunted by a nasty spirit on the same day.   
 
When a human male strolls into the station asking for a job—and promptly spills an entire Americano on him—Sheriff Vander Hale has a feeling it’s going to be a bad day. Then, the door opens, the wind shifts, and suddenly, his whole world changes. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his mate, no battle he wouldn’t wage, even if his enemy is technically already dead. Unfortunately, there’s just one problem with his plan.
 
He’d go to hell and back for Fritz, but how is he supposed to fight something he can’t see?  
​

Beauty and Bad Blood: Hunters Hollow, Book 2, will be up after that. I'm not 100% sure when that will release yet, but I'm tentatively shooting for mid-December. 

Finally, I'll be finishing up the year with a new Christmas story. A Merry Little Deja Vu will release on December 23rd and I'm pretty excited about this one!

And lastly, I hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween! We didn't get as many trick-or-treaters as usual this year, but we still had fun dressing up and taking silly pictures! 

​Now, on to Thanksgiving! 
​

I've been waiting until I have something concrete to share before posting another update, but unfortunately, I'm still kind of in limbo right now. 

By this point, a lot of you have probably heard about the Nocturne Bay series I'm writing with Aja Foxx, Lisa Oliver, and Dani Gray. I had planned to make my "official" announcement today, but I think the word has kind of spread by now. LOL! 
​

We don't have a release date yet, but I can tell you that all books in the series will release on the same day and they will be coming very soon! 

As for Dead Over Heels...I fucked up. That's all I really know to say at this point. The muse just stopped talking to me for a while. It happens, and it's frustrating. Then, I had to put it aside to work on some other stuff, which was fun and exciting, but not conducive to getting Dead Over Heels finished.

​Once I got my groove back, the characters kind of hijacked the story, and this book is definitely going to be longer than I had planned. 
​

So, where does that leave us? Late. That's where. I'm stupidly behind, and I'm sorry. I promise I'm working as hard as I can, though, and I'm hoping to have Dead Over Heels out within the next couple of weeks. 

The next book in the Hunters Hollow series is still coming, but obviously, it's going to have to be pushed back a little. I'm thinking closer to middle of December rather than end of November. 

With any luck, I will have some definitive news and dates to share by the end of the week. Fingers crossed. 

Until then, I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween, and remember, calories from Halloween candy don't count. :-P
​

Yep, it's time for another update! 

As we head into fall here in Texas, I just want to say that I hope everyone had an amazing summer! Mine was, in a word, chaotic, but I'm so glad I got to spend some quality time with my family. Especially since my oldest just moved halfway across the country to start his grownup life. I miss him like crazy, and the house is so quiet without him, but I'm also excited for him to start this new adventure! 

So, once upon a time, I said that Prince Orrin Nightstar would be getting his book next in the Blackhaven Manor series. Well, that was true...until this clumsy, neurotic mess stumbled into my head and demanded a book of his own.
Right.
Freaking.
Now.

Meet Frederick. He prefers to be called Fritz. Not Fred. Not Freddy. Just Fritz, and it's pretty fitting since his brain always seems to be on the fritz. He worries a lot. He can barely walk and breathe at the same time.

​And he has a pretty big secret. 

One that his mate, Sheriff Vander Hale, doesn't quiet know what to do with. 

Dead Over Heels will be releasing soon. Right now, I'm tentatively shooting for October 7th, but I'll be sure to post again if that changes. 

After that, I have something really fun planned for Halloween!! It's kind of a secret at the moment, but look for more information coming very soon!

A lot of you have asked about the next Hunters Hollow book. Braeden's best friend, Dylan, is up next in Beauty and Bad Blood. I don't have a release date for you yet, but I'm shooting for the end of November. 

I have a couple of other projects that I hope to fit in before the end of the year, but I think this is enough to be getting on with, so I'll save that for the next update! 

Hey everyone, I just wanted to drop a quick update. 

It's been a rough month for me. Life has been a bit chaotic, and my mental health hasn't been the best. I'm feeling much better now, but I had to take some time away from writing, so of course, I'm a little behind. Don't worry. We're not talking months or anything. Just a couple of weeks.

Angel and Anarchy, the first book in the new spin-off to the Blackhaven Manor series, will now release on or around June 15th. (Just depends on how long Amazon takes to review it.)

While the Hunters Hollow series does share the same world as Blackhaven Manor, and some previous characters from that series will make an appearance, you can read these series completely independently of each other. There will be no crossover storylines. No plots that start in one series and pick up in another. 

So, I think that's it for now, but more updates coming soon!

Until Next Time,
XoXo - Arden