Cover Reveal: Hustled by Roya Carmen

BOOK DETAILS:

Hustled

by Roya Carmen

Publication date: November 20, 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Synopsis:

Fun and Games.
An indecent proposal.
And a whole lot of heartbreak.

Pro billiards player Caine Hall is hot as hell. When he walks into the pool hall I co-own with my husband Reeves, I nearly fall all over myself. Over a few playful games, we get to know each other. He’s smooth and sly, and Reeves instantly hates his guts. He’d kick him out if Mr. Hall didn’t just happen to be our landlord.

He says he wants to help us, and we’re all ears. But when he makes us an outrageous proposal, we can’t believe the gall of the man. Caine wants to spend time with me. It’s innocent enough, albeit very weird. We’re desperate because we’re behind on our rent, so eventually, after much pondering, we reluctantly accept.

Caine treats me like a princess and shows me a whole new world. He takes things slow, just like he does at the pool table. Yet… he scares me — he’s intense and obsessive. And as he abuses his power, his demands and proposals intensify.

Reeves and I are falling apart. We keep telling ourselves we’ll say no next time, but Caine has got us both under his spell, efficiently manipulating us both in very different ways.

I’m anxious about my marriage and my unpredictable, hot-tempered husband. Yet I can’t stop thinking about Caine. He’s in my head. He’s under my skin. Reeves and I have agreed that this is simply a financial arrangement, something we’re doing for our livelihood.

So why have I let Caine hustle his way into my heart?

This novel is a STANDALONE book. It will be part of a series of 3 standalone books, all stories will be related but will stand on its own.

AUTHOR BIO:

Mom, writer, bookworm, comic artist, and hopeless romantic. 

Author of The Ground Rules trilogy, the One Week series, the Riverstones series, the Orchard Heights series, and the You collection. 

ALL my books are standalone reads with the exception of The Ground Rules Book 2 and 3. Although the books are standalone reads, when reading a complete series, it is best to do so in chronological order to avoid spoilers. And if you’re a comics fan, check out my comic book: A Romantic Life. 🙂

Author links:

https://arlcomics3.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/roya.carmen.2025/

https://www.instagram.com/royacarmen/

Review: Days Gone By by Jerry J.C. Veit

Goodreads Blurb

Three days after Christmas an auto accident left Caleb partially disabled and took the life of his five year old nephew. Now on the anniversary, four years later, Caleb is afraid to leave his house; even to attend his brother’s upcoming wedding.

Soon past friends and deceased relatives mysteriously begin showing up in his home to deliver their messages and help him through his phobia by showing him glimpses of his past, present and possible future.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A story that will always be remembered by all the readers. My heart broke for Caleb with the loss of his nephew. This book was written in play format, which made each character come to life, and I was happy to see that all the characters were linked. It was a touching story that reminded me of the Christmas Carol after Scrooge was visited by ghost in hopes he would change his character. Caleb was visited by a number of apparitions to have him open his eyes and accept what he can not change. Sometimes, the passing of a family or friend can devastate someone to the extreme like what Caleb went through. We could feel sadness, hopelessness, anger, and keep our self’s locked away for us to feel safe or not have to remember what had happened. I learned that we should reach out to our loved ones and help them cope and show them that life moves on and the memories of our loved ones will always be with us.

Goodreads Author Biography

I write & live in Wisconsin where I also earned a degree in graphic design.

I started writing my titles as original screenplays before adopting them into books. Rewriting my stories gave me some more creative freedom to express greater details, narration and extend scenes than obeying the strict rules that scripts follow.

I enjoy writing character-driven stories in fantastical settings with vivid world-building and impossible odds.

My approach to writing includes two steps.
First is developing the world and the rules and laws of this environment. Next are the characters and how they act and react to their surroundings and why.

Guillermo del Toro will be at the Union Square BN Discussing the Making of Frankenstein

Information was taken from the BN website.

About this Event

Join Barnes & Noble – Union Square in New York City onSunday, October 19th at 7PMas we welcome Academy Award winning and Internationally renowned filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro, to discuss the Art and Making of FRANKENSTEIN. Explore the enchanting artistry and visionary storytelling behind Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, where stunning visuals and insightful commentary reveal the creative process and craftsmanship that bring Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece to life like never before.

BONUS: Each ticket includes the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition of FRANKENSTEINwhich features a stunning custom cover and two 8 x 10 frameable art prints.

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To make this event safe and enjoyable for all attendees, please read the below guidelines ahead of buying a ticket, so you know what to expect on the day. To avoid disappointment, we must stress that there will be no access to the event for non-ticketholders.

  • Barnes & Noble reserves the right to make new rules and orders in its sole discretion with regard to COVID-19 at any time and any person not abiding by the Barnes & Noble directives will be refused entrance or directed to leave the premises.

TICKETING INFORMATION

Book Admission – $81.71 (Admission + one copy of The Art and Making of FRANKENSTEIN+ 5-cent bag fee): **LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

This is a discussion event only. There will be no signing/photo line.

There will be no posed photos. Photos are allowed from your seat during the discussion.

There will be no signing line. Guillermo del Toro will not sign any books, memorabilia or personal items.

Any gifts for the Guillermo del Toro will be collected at check-in.

Please arrive by 7PM in order to secure your seat in the event space. Late arrivals may only have access to standing room.

GUIDELINES

No memorabilia will be signed at this event.

No large bags will be permitted into the event.

Ticket holders will be admitted into the event beginning at 6:30PM the day of the event. Please have a copy of your ticket available (either printed out or on your phone) for check in.

Due to health and safety and space limitations, those without a ticket will not be permitted into the event space.

Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event. Each person must have a ticket to enter.

Link to RSVP: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062198180-0

Met Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan

Yesterday, we ventured in the bad weather to drive to Plainville, MA. The event took place at An Unlikely Store Bookstore & Cafe and learned that the owner is the one and only Jeff Kinney, the author of The Diary of a Whimp Kid.

This was the third time I got a chance to meet Nicholas Sparks, and the first time I met M. Night Shyamalan, which was the reason why I needed to drive four hours. We were lucky to have made new friends and were able to get online early and be one of the first few people online. I’m glad the weather held off until we got home.

Review: I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski

Goodreads Blurb

I see London, I see France, I see Sydney’s underpants.

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.

As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera…wearing only her polka-dot underpants.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It is one of the best spontaneous traveling books with friends. It was a fun book filled with laughs, friendship, and love. I felt bad for Sydney’s situation but was happy she went for that trip she always wanted to go with her best friend. Love the quirky adventures and risky romance. It was a fun book filled with details that will bring you to these amazing places that we all wish to visit. I was excited for this book since I dream of one day having an adventure of my own in Europe.

Goodreads Author Biography

Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.

Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have), Don’t Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls’ Night In and Girls’ Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).

Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.

Sarah’s books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Review: Spell of Summoning by Anna Abner

Goodreads Blurb

Holden Clark walks into Rebecca Powell’s life, a tall, blue-eyed stranger who stirs long forgotten desires. But nothing, including this man, is what it seems. A dark necromancer is targeting Becca for a full-blown demonic possession. She is thrust into a world she never knew existed—a world where dark casters create chaos and necromancers talk to the dead.

Holden has no faith in his power. A necromancer, he communicates with the dead, but he has never embraced his gifts. Now, he has no choice. He must stop the dark caster attacking Rebecca, but accepting this mission means he’ll be delving into dangerous magics he’s never used before.

Under the protection of the damaged and mysterious Holden, Rebecca will question everything …

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A paranormal love story that all readers will love. The chemistry between Holden and Rebecca was extraordinary. They could light a fire just by looking at each other. I loved that Holden seeked to help Rebecca before a demon possessed her. They both worked together and fought evil with power and spells.

Goodreads Author Biography

Anna Abner lived in a haunted house for three years and grew up talking to imaginary friends. Currently, she writes edge-of-your-seat paranormal romances from her desert hideaway in sunny Southern California. Her series include the Red Plague, the Dark Caster, Beasts of Vegas, and Beasts of Mountain Vale. Connect with her online at AnnaAbner.com

Review: Under-The-Bed Fred by Linda Bailey

Goodreads Blurb

There’s a monster under Leo’s bed making a ruckus every night. When Leo needs to go to the bathroom, he leaps from the bed to the door — careful not to put his feet on the floor within the monster’s reach. But one night Leo gets tired of being scared and boldly calls out to the monster to see if they can’t just work something out. Surprisingly, the monster listens, and Leo finds out that even enormous monsters have fears! Leo and his monster, Fred, team up to face their fears, each with his own unique strengths. Over the course of five easy-to-read chapters, their friendship blooms as they face everything from bullies to bedbugs. A funny and endearing tale of two very different and unlikely friends, in the tradition of Bink and Gollie and Frog and Toad.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When a monster can be your best friend too. A book filled with spooks and laughs. Everyone young and old will enjoy Fred the monster. He knows how to scare you but is a great friend and helps when you get bullied. Illustrations were perfect for each scene.

Goodreads Author Biography

I was born and grew up in Winnipeg —a daydreamer with her nose in a book. In my twenties, I traveled around the world, mostly by ship. Later, I moved to Vancouver, where I earned a B.A. and M.Ed. at the University of British Columbia. Among my jobs were travel agent, college teacher, instructional designer and editor.

For years, I dabbled with writing. But I didn’t begin to write in earnest until I had two young daughters. My first book was published in 1992, and I have since written more than thirty others, including novels, picture books and non-fiction.

I live in Vancouver, a short walk from the sea. I write full-time and still love to travel, read and daydream.