Author: sharisakurai

Shari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBT protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life! Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work. Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge ten times!

New Release Blitz: Second Chance by S.B. Barnes

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Title: Second Chance

Series: Hudson Valley Murder Mysteries, Book Two

Author: S.B. Barnes

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 02/04/2025

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 94800

Genre: Contemporary, contemporary, gay, demiromantic, Hudson Valley, mystery, murder, campus, town/gown, professors, auto mechanic, closeted, coming out, family drama, student/teacher relation, mental health

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Description

Almost a year after the murder that shook Lobell College to its core, the start of a new academic year brings familiar faces back to the scene of the crime. Daniel Rosenbaum starts his first year as dean of the English department and takes a hands-on role in advising students. Lily Peterson and Gianna d’Angelo return to continue their undergrad studies after the death of the professor they were both in love with.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Hudson, Tony d’Angelo is working hard. With his sister back in college, it’s all hands on deck to keep his dad’s auto shop running and take care of his infant niece. He still finds time to spend most nights with his boyfriend, Daniel, although he can’t seem to find the words to talk to his family about his relationship. Tony’s life is exactly what he’s always wanted it to be—so why does he feel like he’s struggling to be himself?

When a Lobell professor is once again found murdered, the idyll of the last months is turned on its head. Can Tony and Daniel stay out of harm’s way this time? Or will the fragile new peace they’ve found together be shattered?

Continue reading “New Release Blitz: Second Chance by S.B. Barnes” →

New Release Blitz: Diplomatic Liability by Rebecca Cohen

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Title: Diplomatic Liability

Series: Devlin Taylor, Earth Ambassador, Book Two

Author: Rebecca Cohen

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 01/28/2025

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 65900

Genre: Science Fiction, tentacle/tail sex, aliens, interspecies, scientist, ambassador, space travel

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Description

Devlin Taylor is Earth’s first ambassador, seeing the universe with his alien boyfriend Zal by his side. But nothing is straightforward when you’re the first human on board a spaceship. Devlin and Zal need to keep their relationship hidden for now, and many others on the ship would like to get the chance to explore a new species’ anatomy.

New planets, strange worlds, and exciting adventures await Devlin, but when an unknown species tries to board the Chroalian ship, something doesn’t add up, and Devlin is left wondering what is going on. Add in homesickness, jealousy, and cultural differences, and Devlin has a lot to learn. Good job Zal is by his side every step of the way.

Continue reading “New Release Blitz: Diplomatic Liability by Rebecca Cohen” →

Demon’s Past – Blurb

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Today I am excited to share with you the blurb for my upcoming novel Demon’s Past!

Demon’s Past by Shari Sakurai

When apprentice merchant Thane Bremen travels with his family to Nagasaki, he is more excited about the exotic destination than studying his trade. A chance encounter with a local man gives Thane the opportunity to learn more about the culture of Japan.

Kokawa Taku is unlike anyone Thane has ever met before. He is outgoing, charming, spontaneous and Thane finds himself instantly drawn to him. Taku opens Thane’s eyes to new experiences, and perhaps a different future to the one that is mapped out for him. When their friendship turns into romance, Thane struggles with his father’s expectations for him and how the society he is from would view his relationship with Taku.

As they become closer, Thane learns that Taku is a vampire. With this, he begins to understand just what it means for them both. Taku will live forever, and Thane’s life will be over in a comparative blink of an eye. While Thane contemplates what it is to love the immortal, a disaster strikes that threatens to part them sooner than either of them thought was possible.

Demon’s Past will be release in ebook and print format on Friday 7th March 2025!

New Release Blitz: The Prince by Mell Eight

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Title: The Prince

Series: Princes of Toval, Book Two

Author: Mell Eight

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 01/14/2025

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 45800

Genre: Fantasy, MM Romance, nonexplicit, royalty, soldiers, politics, magic, magic-user, spies, coup

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Description

Captured as a prisoner of war, Prince Clament expects rough treatment. However, the extent of torment he endures is beyond even his expectations. When Prince Braxton frees him, Clament knows it’s only a farce meant to coerce him into finally spilling all his country’s secrets. Except, despite all his efforts—magical and common—Clament finds himself helplessly drawn to Braxton, wishing he could believe the tantalizing promises Braxton makes.

Unfortunately, the war continues to be fought. When the ongoing battle spills into Clament’s healing ward, resisting Braxton takes a backseat to simple survival. And yet, Clament knows he must make a terrible decision: believe in Braxton and betray his country, or betray Braxton and possibly get him killed. That is, assuming Clament is allowed to live long enough first.

Continue reading “New Release Blitz: The Prince by Mell Eight” →

New Release: Home of the Strange by J.K.Hogan

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NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Home of the Strange (Worldwalkers 1)

Author and Publisher: J.K. Hogan

Cover Artist: Wicked Pixel Designs

Release Date: December 19, 2024

Pairing: MM

Tense/POV: First person, present tense, alternating POV

Genres: Near-future, semi-apocalyptic urban fantasy romance with monsters/cryptids

Tropes: monsters, a bit of mystery

Themes: Neurodivergence, unconventional heroes, did I mention monsters?

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 245 pages

It is part of a series but it’s the first book. There’s no cliffhanger. Each book in the series is about different characters so there is an HEA for these two, although the epilogue is a little teaser about the next book.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US | Amazon UK

What will happen when worlds collide?

Blurb

Maddox is just trying to get by. Navigating a world that’s not built for people like him—people who are different—can be hard, but he keeps his head down and muddles through. Until his strictly ordered life gets turned upside down by a sighting of something that just…should not exist.

Driven by their shared love of mysteries—and cryptids—Mads and his small group of equally outcast friends get pulled into the mystery of a lifetime. In this new reality, one where supernatural beings exist and the world might be ending, Mads somehow finds the confidence to throw himself headlong into the fray. Because nobody’s going to worry about how different he is when nothing is normal anymore.

Kisa has one mission: track his targets and dispense justice or rescue, depending on who he is pursuing. He was most certainly not supposed to become infatuated with the native creatures of this strange place—well, one in particular—yet he finds himself unable to stay away. When he begins to understand that Maddox and his friends have a part to play in all this madness, all he can do is go along for the ride and try to keep them all alive.

Continue reading “New Release: Home of the Strange by J.K.Hogan” →

New Release Blitz: Scars and Secrets by Thomas Grant Bruso

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Title: Scars and Secrets

Author: Thomas Grant Bruso

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 12/17/2024

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 67685

Genre: Contemporary Thriller, Lit/genre, contemporary, crime/thriller, family-drama, disappearance, murder, cancer, therapist

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Description

Ralph Ashton gets more than he bargained for when police question him about the death of his ex-boyfriend Elijah Ray, whose body is discovered at the edge of the Saranac River.

When the local police visit Ralph and ask him about a critical piece of case evidence, Ralph becomes a prime suspect. He sets out to learn what happened to Eli the night he left his apartment and is startled to learn about his former boyfriend’s shady past.

As Ralph pursues a dangerous investigation, he discovers things about Eli he did not know while they were together.

Ralph’s life starts to unravel when he loses more people close to him as his mother lies in a hospital bed dying of cancer. Is learning about the truth of Eli’s death worth jeopardizing his safety?

Continue reading “New Release Blitz: Scars and Secrets by Thomas Grant Bruso” →

New Release: North Star by TA Moore

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NEW RELEASE

Book Title: North Star, Yule Lads 2

Author: TA Moore

Publisher: Rogue Firebird Press

Cover Artist: Tammy Moore

Release Date: December 15, 2024

Pairing: MM

Tense/POV: third person/alternating POV

Genres: Urban Fantasy

Tropes: Opposites attract, Secret lovers, Us against the World, Tough Guy in Soppy Love

Themes: Family is what you make it, Love Languages

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 50 000 words/ 130 pages

It is the sequel to True North. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Dylan Hollie saved Christmas, not that he can tell anyone about it.

Blurb

Dylan Hollie saved Christmas, not that he can tell anyone about it.


Now all he has to worry about is finding out who killed the previous Santa and set everything in motion.

It should be easy enough. He’s got plenty of suspects. Between Santa’s ambitious relatives, who all think they could do a better job of filling out the red suit, and the impenetrable mire of Winter Court politics there were more people who wanted the jolly man dead than alive.

Right now the prime suspects are the Yule Lads. Santa’s magically contracted bodyguards; the Lads have been at this too many centuries to fail so comprehensively all at once.

Dropped into the middle of this, in a world he’d never believed in, Dylan has to try and work out who to trust, and that maybe the answer is no-one.

He’d also like to know if Santas ever retire. The benefits are good, and the health insurance is insane, but he definitely doesn’t want to be Santa this year!

Continue reading “New Release: North Star by TA Moore” →

Audio and Book Blast: Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts by Sarah Whelan

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AUDIO and BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts

Author: Sarah Whelan

Publisher: Mascot Books

Narrator: Charles Robert Fox

Release Date: November 7, 2023

Pairing: MM

Tense/POV: First person, past tense

Genres: Historical

Tropes: Forbidden love

Themes: Prequel to classic story, redemption, recovery from loss

Heat Rating: 2 flames

Length: 344 pages

Audiobook Length: 9 hours and 29 minutes

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Audible US | Audible UK

Amazon US | Amazon UK

In this retelling of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge recounts the defining moments of his life, revealing his love affair with business partner Jacob Marley, the reasons why he hates Christmas so much, and what turned him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well.

Blurb

A Christmas Carol shows us one terrible day in Ebenezer Scrooge’s life, but have you ever wondered what came before his fateful encounter with the ghosts of Christmas time? What happened to turn him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well?

There is so much more to this character—possibly more than Charles Dickens himself could ever have imagined.

Scrooge has compelling reasons for hating Christmas, for rejecting his fiancée and his precious nephew, and for employing Tiny Tim’s father, despite his obvious incompetence. He is a doting uncle, beloved brother, successful businessman, and passionate lover, but a dark secret puts both him and his loved ones at risk. Scrooge struggles to embrace his true self and live in defiance of the Victorian era’s repressive moral standards. Soul-crushing losses and his own destructive choices shape his fate into a twisted path of sorrow, frustration, and uncertainty—but also happiness, fulfillment, and love.

Scrooge’s own words sum it up best: “How delightfully queer life is.”

Continue reading “Audio and Book Blast: Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts by Sarah Whelan” →