Forbidden Bases

 

 

Some rules were made to be broken.

Forbidden Bases

Bridger City Falcons Book 1

by Alexa Fauli

Genre: Sweet Fake Dating Sports Romance

CARTER

I’m Carter Blake—star first baseman for the Bridger City Falcons. Fame, money, women… I have it all.

Except the one woman I was never supposed to want.

Darcy Simmons is my best friend’s little sister. Off-limits. Always has been. But when she comes back to town, every line I drew years ago blurs fast. One bad night, one viral photo, and suddenly we’re pretending we’ve been secretly dating.

It’s fake. Temporary. Harmless.

Until it isn’t.

DARCY

Carter Blake was my teenage crush—the one I never got over. Now he’s a professional baseball star with a reputation that screams heartbreak.

Faking a relationship with him should be easy. Safe. No feelings allowed.

But the longer we pretend, the harder it becomes to ignore what’s always been there—and the more I risk losing my heart to the one man who could destroy it.

FORBIDDEN BASES is a sweet baseball romance featuring fake dating, brother’s best friend, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA.

Some rules were made to be broken.


WHAT READERS WILL LOVE

✔ Fake dating
✔ Brother’s best friend
✔ Sweet and emotional romance
✔ No cheating
✔ Slow-burn tension
✔ Guaranteed HEA
✔ Perfect for fans of Hallmark-style romance with a sporty twist

 

 

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Carter

I pulled into the players' lot at Falcons Stadium, my truck's tires crunching over the gravel as I found my usual spot. The afternoon sun bathed the stadium in golden light, and I could already smell the freshly cut grass as I grabbed my gear from the passenger seat. Practice days had their own rhythm, different from game days—less pressure, more fine-tuning. I stretched my arms over my head, feeling yesterday's game still lingering in my muscles. Coach Miller would be waiting, probably already pacing the field with that damn whistle, ready to critique every move we made.

The locker room buzzed with the usual pre-practice chatter. I nodded to Rivera at his locker across from mine.

"Blake! How's that shoulder feeling?" he asked, tossing me a roll of athletic tape.

I caught it with one hand. "Better than your batting average." I grinned to soften the jab.

"You're an asshole," he laughed, pulling his practice jersey over his head.

I changed quickly, my movements practiced after years of this same routine. The smell of liniment and sweat permeated the air, familiar and oddly comforting. I laced up my cleats, grabbed my glove, and headed for the dugout.

The late afternoon sun hit me full in the face as I stepped onto the field. I paused at the top step, taking it in—the emerald expanse of the outfield, the reddish-brown dirt of the infield, and the crisp white baselines freshly laid down. This view never got old. A baseball field was the one place in the world that made perfect sense to me.

"Blake! Stop admiring the scenery and get your ass over here!" Coach Miller's voice cut through my moment. I jogged over to where the team was gathering along the first-base line. Coach stood with his arms crossed, his Falcons cap pulled low over his eyes, that perpetual look of mild disappointment etched on his face.

"Alright, listen up," he barked, not bothering to raise his voice—he never needed to. "Infielders with me. Outfielders with Coach Taylor. Pitchers to the bullpen with Ramirez. We're working on fundamentals today because apparently, some of you forgot what those are during yesterday's game."

A few guys chuckled. We'd won yesterday, but it had been sloppy—three errors and some baserunning mistakes that had Coach's veins popping out of his neck by the seventh inning.

I followed the rest of the infield to our positions. The dirt felt firm under my cleats as I took my spot at shortstop. Coach Miller stood at home plate, fungo bat in hand.

"Let's go! Double plays. Martinez to Blake to Thompson."

He smacked a grounder toward second base. Martinez fielded it cleanly, pivoted, and fired the ball to me. I caught it as I glided across second, tapped the bag with my foot, and threw to first in one fluid motion. The ball hit Thompson's glove with a satisfying pop.

"Again!" Coach called, already sending another one.

We fell into rhythm. Ground ball, scoop, throw, catch, pivot, throw, catch. My body knew what to do without my brain getting involved. The sun warmed my back, and sweat began to trickle down my spine. I loved this—the mechanical precision of it, the way my muscles remembered every movement.

"Blake! Watch your footwork on that double play!" Coach Miller's voice cut through my flow. "You're getting lazy with the pivot. Do it again."

I didn't argue. Coach's eyes missed nothing. Instead, I reset my position, adjusted my stance slightly, and waited for the next ball.

"He’s on your ass already?" Thompson called from first base.

"When is he not?" I shot back with a grin.

The next grounder came hot, a tough short-hop that I had to charge. I scooped it cleanly, stepped on second, and fired to first—textbook.

"Better," Coach Miller said, which from him was practically a standing ovation.

We worked through the drills for another twenty minutes. The rhythm of practice wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket—the crack of the bat, the calls from teammates, the thud of balls hitting gloves. My shirt stuck to my back with sweat, and dirt collected in the creases of my palms.

"Water break, then switching to situational defense," Coach announced, blowing his whistle.

I jogged to the dugout, grabbing a paper cup and filling it from the cooler.

"Looking smooth out there, Blake," said Diaz, our catcher, as he filled his own cup.

"Thanks, man. How're the pitchers looking?"

"Chen's slider is nasty today. Cruz is still fighting his control."

I nodded, draining my cup and crumpling it. The water was cold against my throat.

"Blake!" Coach Miller appeared at the dugout steps. "I need you to work with Rodriguez on his transfers. Kid's got good hands but he's fumbling the exchange."

"Sure thing, Skip."

Rodriguez was our rookie second baseman, called up just last month when Pearson went on the injured list. Good kid, quick feet, but still learning the ropes.

I found him by the batting cage, nervously fielding grounders from one of the assistants.

"Hey, Rodriguez," I called, trotting over. "Coach wants us to work on transfers."

"Oh, yeah, sure." His eyes widened slightly. Working directly with a veteran always made the rookies nervous.

"Relax, I don't bite. Much." I grinned, positioning myself next to him. "Show me what you're doing."

The assistant coach hit him a grounder. Rodriguez fielded it well but fumbled slightly as he moved the ball from his glove to his throwing hand.

"I see the issue," I said. "You're rushing it. Let me show you."

I nodded to the coach, who sent a grounder my way. I fielded it smoothly, transferring it to my throwing hand in one fluid motion.

"See how I let the momentum of the ball carry into my throwing hand? You're trying to force it." I demonstrated again. "It's all about rhythm. Like dancing with a pretty girl—you've got to feel the flow."

Rodriguez nodded earnestly. "Can I try again?"

We worked for another fifteen minutes, his transfers gradually becoming smoother. Coach Miller watched from a distance, his arms crossed but his scowl a little less severe.

"Better, kid." I clapped Rodriguez on the shoulder. "You'll get it."

Alexa Fauli is a devoted sports romance author whose passion for the Atlanta Braves and love of hockey inspire her vibrant stories of competition and connection. When she's not dreaming up unforgettable characters who play hard for both love and victory, Alexa enjoys sipping toasted white mochas, watching anime romances, and cherishing time with her family. Her life is a delightful blend of heart, heat, and the magic that happens both on and off the page.

 

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Skies of Blue Free today!

  

FREE March 12th and 13th

Chapter One

 

Janet Nelson parked her vehicle on the slight incline near the entrance of Cedar Ridge Hills Museum. She turned the car off only to hear it continue to run before it coughed, chugged, burped, and made other colorful bodily function noises before it stopped with a sigh of relief.

The door made a piercing screech, objecting her to exit from the car. It continued its complaining until she slammed it shut.

You’re never going to make it…

She ignored the condescending voice and took a deep, cleansing breath.

The majestic manor sat on the crest of the hill. Seen from the cliffs and Lake Superior, it shared the summer sky. A faint ray of light appeared on the far horizon dispelling the darkness. The morning breeze cleared the dawn mist shrouding the distant boundary dividing heaven and earth.

It hinted at the secrets and mysteries within the haunted walls of the museum until they dissolved into each other. The ancient cliffs projected upwards, a hundred feet from the lake below.

Janet inhaled the comforting fresh air. The lake beyond the rock face was calm and motionless. The curling waves were gentle. The lake was never still, the massive expanse of Superior beckoned, pulling the tides to a distant shore. The unseen currents demanded obedience. The force of the great lake forever called the people of Locke Bay to its shores.

The museum was a vast and sprawling place. Its rooms were many, and its halls elaborate. It stretched from high towers to deep cellars.

Of all its many rooms, there was one built deep into the very foundation of its secrets. One room roused different emotions in different people; the ‘campfire’ rituals inspired stories revealing its secrets of transcendental travel. To others, it was simple curiosity.

To a handful, it was fear and desperation.

The great walls of Locke Manor weathered years of troubles and happiness.

Janet used to play manhunt among the deserted hallways, partying with her friends before the state’s purchase. The college students considered it an initiation of sorts, a rite of passage…to spend one night in the sanatorium section among the haunted halls of Locke Manor.

The warmth and radiance of the sun shining down on the great house couldn’t remove the woeful shadows clouding her days. They haunted her, just as the halls of the great manor were haunted by its past.

Somehow, all those wide-eyed, naïve dreams came crashing down around her. Janet was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and life served on a silver platter. However, no one could accuse her of being lazy. She was raised to work for what she wanted. Her parents were financially comfortable, not her. She had to make her own way.

Entitled was a dirty word in her family.

She’d married into a more affluent family, new money. Of course, it wasn’t unexpected. However, somewhere along the line, she’d lost the silver spoon, and dropped the silver platter until it shattered and broke into tiny little pieces.

She literally ran away from the comforts of wealth; and began her new life with a quarter in her pocket.

For her, it was the last straw. Lines became more important to him than the roof over their heads. He’d lost his temper when he found out she threw it in the trash. She touched her tongue to the tooth he broke.

She fell against the door and grabbed the closest thing. Janet had thrown the large formal lamp at him. When he ducked, it gave her a chance to get away from him. She ran from the house before he had a chance to grab her again.

Janet had found a quarter on the ground while walking to her friend’s house. She had nothing but the clothes on her back. She started her new life with absolutely nothing but that quarter.

She was forced into hiring a lawyer to pick up her and Aiden’s belongings, the ones he hadn’t destroyed.

Everything went up in smoke. Like the phoenix, her life was reborn.

She lost her job and dropped out of college. So much for her master’s degree.

You’ll never make it without me, princess.

Yeah, watch me.

She may have a broken-down car, a tiny apartment she shared with two other people, and was working in a small diner…but she’d be damned if she would go crawling back to him.

She even started dating a year ago. It was a freaking disaster, a huge mistake. Her divorce was pending. Even though there hadn’t been any physical relationship, X accused her of adultery. She hadn’t found a job to support herself, let alone their son.

When X refused to return Aiden on one of his visitation weekends, all hell broke loose.

She retained a small apartment with roommates. He had a large home, a bank account, possession of the vehicles, and an expensive lawyer. He’d accused her of doing all the things he’d done to her.

The X used it all against her.

You want your son back? Then come home and be a real wife.

Her divorce was finalized last month. He promised he would break her. He almost did. She’d lost the only thing that mattered, custody of her son. Shared parental responsibility, Janet had him 50% of the time, but Aiden lived with X.

He bragged about how he’d bought her lawyer.  

Despair threatened her heart.

Two years passed since she walked away from a life of luxury, and she still had the quarter. It was a reminder that tomorrow was a promise of hope and second chances.

She stared at the door to the museum.

This job could be her redemption, a new beginning to change not only her life, but also the lives of others around her.

Janet knew what it was to live in darkness, to find a moment of reprieve, only to be plunged into obscurity again. She understood the undercurrents hidden behind superficial smiles.

When she’d first come to Locke Bay, Cedar Ridge Hills lured her to it. She was fascinated by the imposing manor house. It separated the boundaries of the mystery from the truth and the boundaries within the mind.

Janet took a deep breath before entering the Cedar Ridge Hills Museum. Her hands shook. She had no qualifications, no inkling of what she was getting into, nor did she have any idea of how much she should be asking for a wage.

All she knew was what George told her.

Sweet and wonderful George Greene was one of the docents at the museum. He’d chatted with her when business was slow at the diner, and they’d gotten to know each other. They’d been looking for a new tour guide, and according to George, she’d be perfect for the position.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, George. I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“Me either, but it appears our newest curator has exited the building.”

Her mouth dropped. “Another one? Three in the last month?”

He grunted. “Four.”

She frowned, disappointed. She hadn’t realized how much she hoped to get the position.

He locked the door behind her. “Come on. Let’s have some coffee.”

Following him, she rubbernecked her way down the hall toward the kitchen area.

“Don’t fret. Since I’m the one doing the hiring today, you have the job.”

“Really?”

“It’s all yours.”

“I’ll need to give a two-week notice. But I can work part-time until then.”

“Absolutely. We can start your training today if you’d like.”

Janet laughed. “I like. I like.”

Purchase Skies of Blue  on Amazon

Go to Pam's Amazon Author Page

A note from Pam:

As we were walking through the stories played out in my head. Skies of Blue was inspired a few years back when we toured the Ohio Reformatory. I pictured a live-in curator who needed a new beginning. Then... when the pictures were printed---I saw the orbs and now we have  The House on Cedar Ridge Museum Series

A Hundred Black Sunrises

 

 

Keeping secrets keeps you alive.

Sienna would know.

A Hundred Black Sunrises

A Friday the 13th Story

by Tamela Miles

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

A hundred different ways to break your heart, a hundred different ways to take your last breath. Sienna and Finn are exploring their strange attraction to each other until strange becomes something sinister. The clock is ticking as they fight to unravel the mystery of what draws them together on fateful Friday, the 13th.

 

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Tamela Miles is a California State University San Bernardino graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She’s a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.

She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she does.

 

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Red Queen Yellow King Media

 

 

Welcome back to Wonderland.

Nothing here survives unchanged.

Red Queen, Yellow King

The Book of Alice #1

by Jack Finn

Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy, Alice in Wonderland Retelling

This is book #1 of The Book of Alice duology.

Wonderland has fallen. And something older than kings has taken its place.

Alice returns to consciousness in a ruined palace, her body broken, her mind fractured, her sister enslaved by a queen who wears a crown of thorns and a smile of knives. The Looking Glass is shattered. The Hatter has turned. The White Queen is dead.

But beyond the bloody thrones and broken teacups lies something even stranger—an echo of a play that should never be performed, whispered by a masked god in yellow.

To save what little remains, Alice must navigate a sea of madness, hunt down a missing monarch, and confront the truth behind her own unraveling story.

Some fairy tales end in fire. Others in silence.

  

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The Red Queen played the long game. She murdered the White Queen and spared Alice, Ava, Hatter, and Lady Cheshire the purge that followed; even Tinker was allowed to live just long enough to complete his devices for the journey. Holding Ava and the Cheshire girls hostage, even releasing the giants, was all part of a plan the Red Queen had mapped out in her mind well in advance. She wanted the Azure Queen dead and the Red King back. Now all her pieces were in play on the chessboard.

Like every game, chess had rules.

Alice never played by the rules.

She would make her own rules.

She would beat the Red Queen at her own game.

Alice doing Alice things.

Jack Finn is a horror author and active Horror Writers Association member living in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two fiendishly clever dogs. He is a lifelong believer that the Tooth Fairy proves you can trade body parts for cold, hard cash.

His books by the include, The Wolves of Kalinin werewolf duology: Prey Upon the Lambs (Anuci Press 2025) and The Desolation of Hunters (Anuci Press 2025); the horror collection They Come When You Sleep (Velox Books 2025), a re-envisioning of the Dracula mythos in the standalone novel The Seven Deaths of Prince Vlad (Anuci Press 2024), and the folk horror collection, Legend of the Deer Woman (Crow Street Press, 2023).

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Living at the Edge of the World Winter

 

 

Dive into a different world, where nature and friendship are full of surprises.

Living at the Edge of the World – Winter

The Papala Island Adventure Series Book 1

written by S. J. Barratt

narrated by Gill Mills

Genre: Middle Grade Eco Adventure  

Twins Tabitha and Timothy leave London for a wild Shetland island — no Wi-Fi, no friends, and a mysterious great-uncle. In Papala, they discover a new way of life, unexpected friendships, and courage they never knew they had.

A fun, eco-conscious story for ages 9–12 that the whole family will love.

 

When their parents sail the world without them, 12-year-old twins Tabitha and Timothy are sent to the remote island of Papala, known as the "Bird Island." Great Uncle Tamhas becomes their guardian in a world as strange as the island itself.

Tabitha is frustrated with the island's isolation and limited Wi-Fi, but Timothy is delighted to uncover the island’s natural secrets. The twins soon realise however, they are not the only newcomers to the island.

Discover a story about courage, friendship and the joy of embracing the unfamiliar. Dive into a different world, where nature and friendship are full of surprises.

You'll love this story of courage and friendship. Buy now before the price changes!

Check out: https: //www.sjbstories.com to know more!

 

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S. J. Barratt is a self-published, professionally edited children’s author whose eco-themed stories celebrate the connection between people and the natural world. Rooted in an English countryside upbringing and shaped by a career in agriculture, she blends a gardener’s curiosity with a storyteller’s warmth to her writing. Now based in Lyon, France, Suzanne creates tales that inspire middle-grade readers to swap screen time for green time—and rediscover the wonders waiting just outside their door.

 

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A former BBC broadcaster and journalist, Gill Mills brings over 20 years of experience in entertainment to her narration. Known for her warm, resonant voice, she began her voice career while DJing on BBC Radio 1 and has since voiced numerous TV and audio productions. She now runs a content company specialising in podcast and film production from her studio in East London.

 

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Light Up Your Life

 

 

It’s your time to shine! 

Light Up Your Life: A Girl-to-Girl Guide to Being a Changemaker

A Divas That Care Collection #3

by Candace Gish

Genre: Teen/YA Inspirational, Girl Power

 

Ready to find your inner spark? This book celebrates the spirit of teen girls who have faced challenges and turned them into opportunities to uplift others. Each story is a glimpse into the life of a girl who saw a need, found her voice, and took action to make a difference — whether through a small act of kindness or a bold initiative reaching thousands. Mixed in with the personal stories, you’ll find fun activities and prompts to help you discover your passion. Dive in, meet these incredible young women, and discover how you can be a changemaker, too!

 

Absolute Love Publishing

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My parents and my sister were preparing for a trip to Boston. My mother was to receive an award at an event. I was not to attend, so I was staying with my grandparents in Northern Michigan. On a hot and sticky Monday night, a tornado struck and severely damaged our home at 1:30 a.m.

My sister does not wear her hearing aids to bed which made her very difficult to awaken. Precious seconds were wasted and, as a result, my mother and sister barely avoided harm. They just made it to the basement stairway as the tornado struck. Where they had been standing literally one second prior was destroyed. One second could have meant the difference between life and death. One second. It was overwhelming for me. I felt helpless. My whole family could have been killed and I wasn’t there to help, and when I thought about it, I couldn’t have done anything anyway.

Candace Gish is a connector, mentor, and the visionary founder of the Divas That Care network and global podcast. Dedicated to helping women realize their full potential, Candace uses her platform to amplify inspiring stories and facilitate life-changing connections. She has expanded this impact through the Young Divas initiative, empowering the next generation of female leaders to lead with purpose and confidence.

A tireless advocate for collaborative mentorship, Candace believes that when women of all ages converge, they create an unstoppable ripple effect of change. Her mission is deeply personal, fueled by the daily inspiration of her husband and her four daughters.

 

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