Solidly into 2026

And all I can say is, at least we have books. At least we have books. (I'm in the US and things here are weird and not good. I feel like where I stand on things is obvious in my fiction, but in case it isn't, I'm anti-authoritarian, can't stand the current administration here, and believe in science. Also, PROTECT THE DOLLS. Spend your money wisely.)

Anyway, let's talk about books and take a little respite. This month is all about The Café at KatSimonsBooks. The Café stories continue. Those are free to read for two weeks, so for anyone who's feeling the pinch of higher costs this year, you can read and enjoy each Café story. Be sure to check back in on those on the 1st and 15th of the month, so you don't miss anything you want to read. The Café is a nice place to escape to for an hour or two.

Currently, the resident familiar, Nina's Maine Coon Boo, has a story from his perspective up. A day in the life of Boo. Don't miss it!

Boo at the Café is free to read until February 1st!

~~~

In addition to the free stories, all of the different 2025 stories have been put into two collections now! And STORIES FROM THE CAFE: VOLUME TWO is out everywhere today.

This collection has all the Café stories from July through December 2025. If you missed anything in the last six months or just want to have the stories for yourself so you can enjoy them whenever you like, pick up this collection. It's available at KatSimonsBooks as well as everywhere in eBook, Trade paperback, Large Print paperback, and Hardcover editions, to suit your reading needs.

Just a little heads up, if the print editions haven't populated out to your favorite vendors yet, they will be there soon!

STORIES FROM THE CAFE: VOLUME TWO

A Cafe Collection

Out Everywhere Now

Welcome back to the Café…

Return to the cozy, mysterious, and magical world of the Café at KatSimonsBooks, where anything can happen. And often does!

Heart-thumping romance. Dangerous mysteries. Otherworldly creatures. Magic and mayhem. Where ordinary humans sip coffee alongside paranormal creatures. Gods hang out reading paperbacks and meddling where they please. The rich scent of coffee blends with the yummy smells of fresh pastries and brand new books.

And at the center of it all, the witch proprietress Nina and her familiar Boo keep everything running smoothly. At least, as smoothly as a magical café can run.

Enter the Café and settle in for a while. Meet old friends and new. And maybe, just maybe, witness a bit of magic. Don’t miss this latest collection of Stories from The Café at KatSimonsBook!

~~~

And of course, if you've missed any of the stories from the first half of 2025 and would like your own personal copy of those, STORIES FROM THE CAFE: VOLUME ONE is also available everywhere in eBook, Trade, Large Print, and Hardback editions.

~~~

As a little look ahead to next month, February is supposed to be Romance month. And as long time readers will know, I'm not crazy about Valentine's Day as a holiday. BUT I do have the next Dragon Thief story coming out! Which is exciting and a little overdue. And also qualifies as a romance so I'm not shunning the holiday all together! 

Myra and Christopher have to deal with the revelations from THE GOLDEN CHALICE JOB, and that's really fun. And of course, they have things to steal and damsels in distress to rescue. If you're a bit behind on the series, now's the time to catch up!

Meanwhile, over at the Café, I'll have one of my angry FMCs making an appearance to meet another very angry FMC in the first story of the month. I love angry women characters. They're so cathartic. *grin* Be sure to swing by on the 1st of February so you don't miss them!

And if you're feeling the need for a little angry women doing stuff right now, check out ANGER MANAGEMENT.

Be sure to check back next month for details about the next Dragon Thief book, and more about the goings on at the Café (though be sure to hop over there on the 1st of February if you don't want to wait for reminders!) And I should also have some news about my next Kickstarter by then. Because I have a new Cary Redmond novel coming soon! That needs to be celebrated. The world needs more Protectors.

Until February, I hope the world is treating you kindly, or at least as well as can be expected, and I hope you find respite and joy where you can. And as always, I hope you find some really good reading for the month!

~Kat

Big Sale is over but...

ICING THE PUCK is on sale a few more days. Then it goes back to it's normal price, so be sure if you wanted it to pick it up!

And as return to the other releases this month, don't miss the new books that are out everywhere now!

THE POISONS BOOK JOB

Dragon Thief Book Three

BUY DIRECT

All Other Ebook Vendors

Priceless artifact, impossible heist… How can a thief resist?

As Myra tries to find her footing in this new world of dragon shifters, one problem clearly stands out above the rest. The dragon king and his dangerous jobs. Avoiding Christopher because of his father proves impossible, though. And when the king offers her yet another job, a heist almost as interesting as it is impossible, she gives in. To both the job, and working with Christopher.

Pulling off an impossible theft requires focus, precision, and planning. Precision and planning, Myra has down. Focus… With Christopher around, that focus wavers. Ignoring a seven-foot tall, intimidatingly sexy dragon shifter would challenge even the most determined. Myra’s determined. Just not determined enough to stay away from Christopher.

But first they have to pull of his father’s impossible mission and recover a priceless relic. Without getting caught.

And without letting her feelings get in the way.

~~~

THE TROUBLE WITH SHIFTER AND FAE COURTS

Cary Redmond Book 8

BUY DIRECT

All Other EBook Vendors

Trade Paperback: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Bookshop.org |

Large Print Paperback: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Bookshop.org |

Trouble is Back…

And taking her newfound skills on the road. Cary Redmond survived a lot in the last year. From her Seventh Year test as a magical Protector, to meeting her leopard shifter mate, to fending off a whole host of enemies. A trip to Scotland with Deacon presents a well-earned chance to rest and practice her new skills and powers. Even if meeting Deacon’s grandmother comes in the bargain.

But Trouble follows Cary wherever she goes, including all the way across the pond to Scotland. Where Deacon’s grandmother harbors a secret tie to the Fae, and rival Faery queens fight for dominion. Cary finds herself, once again, in the middle of powerful enemies, protecting everyone in the crossfire.

This time, though, if she fails, the cost could be the love of her life.

Because this time, Faery wants Deacon.

~~~

Plus I have my contemporary romance novel, DESIGNED FOR YOU, on sale for only $0.99 if you're looking for a light, contemporary romance with fake dating and low angst and friends-to-lovers trope! It'll stay on sale at KatSimonsBooks through the end of the month, but I think the sale ends everywhere else around the 25th of June, so be sure to check it out now!

Happy Reading! And Happy Solstice!

~Kat

Holidays and Happy New Year!

Well, not quite the new year yet. First, we have to do all this other celebrating -- or avoid the other celebrating as the case may be! Whichever it is for you, I hope this month brings you peace and some joy and some good books to read.

This month, I have a long short story/novelette contemporary romance "meet cute" releasing. It's set in Hawaii around Christmas, and if you're looking for something quick and fun and a little sweetly sexy and maybe even a little suspenseful, I hope you'll try Poinsettias and Possibilities. I spent a few Christmases in Hawaii over the years (went to college there), so I can say it's a lovely place to be for the holidays.

POINSETTIAS AND POSSIBILITIES
eBook 

Christmas in Hawaii is just what she needs…

When a disaster with her former boss sends Jessica Warwick to Hawaii to dog-sit for a college friend, she expects to spend a few months escaping her past and working out her future. And Christmas on the North Shore in Hawaii definitely qualifies as a nice consolation prize after her frightening Thanksgiving. She doesn’t count on the sexy firefighter next door disturbing her peace.

Kevin Nakoa knows Jessica spells disaster the minute his neighbor introduces the new dog-sitter. She’s temporary, only on Oahu for six months, and Kevin isn’t a winter fling kind of guy. Even if the sexy New Yorker has him rethinking that stance. But he promised his neighbor he’d keep an eye on Jessica. And when an escaped dog forces him into spending time with her, Kevin knows he’s in trouble.

Christmas in Hawaii brings a reckoning for Jessica. But also a lot of hope. And with Kevin, the possibility for more.

~~~

Next month, finally, the launch of a new paranormal romance series that I've had percolating in the back of my head for years now. There was even an earlier version of the first book--written years ago! I'm so excited to have the series hitting the shelves soon. It's been a long time in coming. It combines a little monster horror (not monster romance--yet--strictly horror monsters in the first three books), some interesting mythology, fated mates, and a twist on the idea of a shapeshifter. I hope readers will enjoy it!

It's a bit darker than my Tiger Shifters series, but not by much, so if you like dark, scary paranormal romance, this might be just for you. But there are references to the murder of family members (happened before the book started), so if that's a problem for you, this might be one to miss.

The eBook is currently available for preorder at a special preorder price. Buy the book now or during the first two weeks after release, and you'll save 60% off the regular price! A little treat to thank readers and celebrate the launch of this new series. This book will also be available in Trade paperback and Large Print paperback in the new year (I'll add those to the preorder link when they're ready).

DARKNESS IN STONE is book one in the Seven Families series. As the overarching name suggests, there are seven whole families for me to write about. I'm starting with the wolves. There will be more.

DARKNESS IN STONE

Seven Families: Wolf

PREORDER

When Katie Donovan enters the dark, mysterious world of billionaire Eric Logan, she finds more than she bargains for. Because Eric isn’t what he seems. And his world teams with supernatural monsters. But if she can face the horrors, she might find her future. And a love that defies everything.

~~~

Next month more on the new series, as well as some updates on what I have happening in 2023. Some of the 2023 happenings involve an option for buying direct from me!

I have the basics of Kat Simons Books set up now, which you can see at https://tanddpublishingbookstore.com/. I only have eBooks there so far (delivered by BookFunnel for ease and excellent customer support if you have any trouble!). I still have to figure out preorders. And I'm still uploading things. But the basics are there for you to explore if you like. I will be carrying paperbacks as well soon. And I'm hoping to offer digitally narrated audiobooks in the near future, as well.

There's a lot more happening in 2023, so please check back next month for more. If you'd like timely updates delivered right to your inbox on all my releases and news, please join my newsletter. I currently have two exclusive stories available to all new subscribers. Mate Run, from my Tiger Shifters paranormal romance series, and When Cary Met Ariel, a novella in my Cary Redmond urban fantasy series. Plus you'll get cover reveals, excerpts, occasional free reads, and as the store gets up and running, special subscriber coupons! Lots of fun right to your inbox. (I do also occasionally ramble about books I'm reading, things I'm baking, and plants I'm trying to grow. *grin*)

Until next month, I hope you have a very peaceful, healthy, and happy December, and that your New Year starts well!

Happy Reading!

~Kat

Something a Little Different

For the middle of summer, or winter, depending on your hemisphere.

This month, I have a new-to-me genre release, my first contemporary romance without any hint of fantasy or paranormal elements. A lot of my stories are set in contemporary times, but this is the first time there's not even a little psychic element in the background (like in my hockey romances as Isabo Kelly *grin*)

When I wrote this novel, I needed something light and low angst, and this is what came out. I set it in a contemporary reality without the covid pandemic (think of it as pre-covid), which is also what I needed. And I wrote about nice people finding love. I hope readers will enjoy reading the novel as much as I enjoyed writing it.

If you like grumpy-sunshine pairings, fake dating, boy/girl next door, friends-to-lovers, and romance with a slow burn that turns pretty hot, I think you'll enjoy DESIGNED FOR YOU, out now! Available in eBook, trade paperback, and large print editions.

DESIGNED FOR YOU
eBook 
Trade Print: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indie Bound 
Large Print: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indie Bound 

They have one summer… Can love give them more?

Interior designer Sabrina Mitchell desperately needs this summer break. To put the tatters of her career behind her and rethink her future. House sitting for her best friend out in the Hamptons solves all her immediate problems. Away from Manhattan, away from the pestering former colleague responsible for her career collapse, away from everything, she can focus. The only kink in her plan… The hunky next door neighbor she can’t stop thinking about.

Architect Nick West moved out to the Hamptons to escape people and his own bad work situation. He loves the isolation and quiet he’s built for himself on the beach. And he would continue to happily enjoy his hermit life… If he could just stop thinking about his neighbor’s sexy house sitter.

With a long, hot summer stretching out in front of them, and an attraction they can’t ignore, Sabrina and Nick must decide if what they have lasts only for the summer…

Or a lifetime. 

~~

Next month, I have a couple of short stories releasing, including the next Demon Witch short story ahead of the next novel in the series, out September 2022. More on that in August.

Until then, I hope you're safe, healthy, and able to enjoy some good books.

Happy Reading!
~Kat 

Standalone Releases and a Surprise for July

News and Updates this month include the release of two stories that were originally published in the Haunts and Howls and Guardian Spells contemporary fantasy collection. And information about my "now for something a little different" coming out next month!

The two releases this month are standalone eBooks for The Unshattered Sword (out June 7th) and Destiny Through the Cats Eyes (out June 28th).

~~

The Unshattered Sword turned out to be a sort of ancient history prequel to the Cary Redmond series--a hint as to where the Protectors started. I hadn't intended that when I started writing, but that's what happened.

THE UNSHATTERED SWORD

Available June 7th
eBook 

The fate of her clan depends on the strength of her sword…

In the land of the Fae, when clans go to war, destruction spreads throughout the realm. To prevent disaster, the clans fight ritual battles through single combatants. One warrior, standing between her people and utter devastation.

Lilia knows that losing the coming fight will mean the end of her people. Everything rests on her shoulders, and her sword. Her ability to stand against the powerful magic of their greatest enemy.

Because if her strength falters…

Her people will die.

~~

Destiny Through the Cats Eyes is a novella that I found so much fun to write, I may have to write more in this series. I'm really interested in seeing what happens between Erica and the cats. *grin*

DESTINY THROUGH THE CATS EYES

Available June 28th
eBook 

Her future holds more danger, magic, and…cats than she anticipated.

When Erica Randal learns her beloved aunt has disappeared, she rushes home, desperate to find her. But when she arrives, everything in her aunt’s house appears normal. Except for the missing cats.

No cats means big trouble.

Instead of the simple explanation Erica hopes for, she discovers her aunt is not who she thought. Magic is real. Deadly enemies gather to overwhelm her world. And a powerful destiny awaits her.

If she’s brave enough to embrace it.

~~

And now for the big July news!

I'm branching out into a (slightly) different genre. Contemporary Romance! It's not the first time I've written romance set in contemporary times, but even my hockey romances as Isabo Kelly have had some level of "woo woo," as a former editor used to call it. Some level of the paranormal or fantasy. My July release is just a straight up, low angst, trope-tastic contemporary romance with an adorkable couple in a slipstream non-Covid reality that I just had to write.

DESIGNED FOR YOU is available for preorder now, and releases on July 12th! I wrote this book while I was "going through some things" and needed something easy and light and fun to write. This is what came out. I love these two together.

If you like Grumpy/Sunshine, Friends-to-Lovers, Boy/Girl Next Door, and Fake Dating, I think you'll enjoy this one. I couldn't squeeze in Only-One-Bed, but I'll try for that next time. *grin*

Because this won't be my only contemporary romance. I have a novella coming out in December, and a third story I'm about a third of the way through writing now. Plus, I think the heroine's best friend in DESIGNED FOR YOU deserves a story, too. 

For those worried, NO I'm not moving away from Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy. In fact, the next Demon Witch book is going into edits as we speak for a September release. And the next Haunts and Howls contemporary fantasy collection is coming together for October. I also have a new paranormal romance series I want to launch in early 2023.

So I will not be moving away from my favorite genres! I'm just branching out a little. This branching out will also include some mysteries as well, so look out for more on that in future posts! I'm a genre writing madwoman at the moment, and I'm very excited to bring so many different stories to readers.

Until next month, Happy Reading! 

~Kat