Coreene Callahan's Blog

Meet Octavius the Octopus. I love him so much, I’m giving you the opportunity to call him your own in my Holiday Giveaway. Click the link below and enter for a chance to WIN Octavius, an autographed copy of THE HOUSE OF STARLIGHT AND SHADOW, bookmarks and other cool swag!

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://kingsumo.com/g/uohlkj/the-house-of-starlight-and-shadow-holiday-giveaway

Good luck! I’m pulling for you!

xo,

Coreene

I wrote a short story about Thanksgiving and the Nightfury pack a while ago. In celebration of American Thanksgiving this weekend, I thought I’d share it here for you to enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who are celebrating. I hope you have a great long weekend with family and friends.

Happy reading!

xo,

Coreene

The first foray out of Black Diamond in weeks, and Angela didn’t know what to do first: embrace the freedom or curse the sheer volume of choices. An f-bomb made the rounds inside her head. All right, then—swearing it was. And no wonder. Super stores weren’t her usual thing. Stake outs, high-powered rifles, and taking down bad guys? No problem. She could handle that. But as she stood in the middle of a grocery isle, facing off with a shelf full of pie fillings, she knew she’d lost her mind.

It was the only explanation. Well, that and love. 

Yes. Love. Sheer Geronimo! craziness. The kind that propelled women into unusual feats of stupidity.

Case in point? The fact she felt compelled to bake a pie. A Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, at that. Why? The answer was simple. It started and ended with one guy: Rikar, frost dragon extraordinaire, her mate, the love of her life. Angela scowled at a can with cherries on the label. Freaking guy and his unpredictable sweet tooth. Idiot her and the drive to please him. But whatever. It was what it was, all ridiculousness aside. No changing it, so Better Homes and Gardens here she came.

Blowing out a long breath, Angela reached out, and shoving the apple and blueberry flavors aside, grabbed a can of pie filling. As cold metal settled against her palm, sunlight streamed through the windows at the front of the store, kissing the pumpkin stamped on the label. Yup. This was it. The moment of truth. Would she, could she…or better yet, should she? 

 Pursing her lips, she shifted the can from one hand to the other. After a second of hesitation, Angela shook her head. No way. Not going to happen. Quitting wasn’t an option. She was smart enough to figure it out—was a former SPD homicide detective…damn it!—so time to armor up and button down. Making a homemade pie for her mate, after all, couldn’t be all that hard. 

With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the pie filling into the air. Light glinted off the steel lip as the pumpkin label whirled, orange streaking under industrial grade fluorescents. Catching the can mid-flip, she pivoted and, strides even, headed for the frozen food section. She could do it, seemed harmless enough, just a long list of ingredients that needed to be put together and thrown into the oven. A little time, a lot of patience and poof, fait accompli…pie in hand and Rikar happy. File it under done. 

 “I mean, really,” she murmured, walking past a display of fancy olive oils. “How difficult can it possibly be?”

Reading through the grocery list inside her head, Angela rounded the end of the isle. She turned left, boot treads squeaking on the floor and stepped—

Right into the middle of a tug of war.

Over a bag of peanut M&Ms.

“Daimler, for the love of Pete!” A death grip on the chocolate treat, Myst—her new friend and the Nightfury commander’s mate—glared at Black Diamond’s butler. “Let go or I swear to God—”

“But my lady, it’s full of sugar,” the Numbai said, pointy ears hidden beneath a traditional golf hat, his expression so sincere Angela’s lips twitched. “Candy isn’t good for you. You must think of the baby.”

“I am thinking of the baby.” With a growl, Myst yanked. Yellow plastic crinkled then slid. Daimler yelped as he lost his grip on the package. The instant he did, her friend hid it behind her back, playing keep away, and shuffled backward. “He wants M&Ms. I’m his mother. I should know.”

Daimler frowned. “Unborn babies do not—”

“I’ll tell Bastian on you,” Myst said, threatening him with her mate’s wrath.

He harrumphed, then opened his mouth, no doubt to argue. Angela cut him off. “One package isn’t going to hurt her, Daimler.”

“Hurt who?” Entering the fray, Tania stopped beside them, five pounds of butter stacked like bricks in her arms. As she dumped her load into Daimler’s already overflowing grocery cart, the third member of the female trifecta, now living inside the lair and mated to Mac, met her gaze. Angela raised a brow, asking without words. Tania grinned, answering in an instant. “I’m making Shortbread cookies. They’re Mac’s favorite.”

Well, all right then. Mystery solved. She wasn’t the only one on the crazy ‘please her man’ tact. Which…phew…made her 100 percent normal.

Tania’s focus dropped to the can in her hand. “What are you making?”

“Pumpkin pie.” Shy all of a sudden, she shrugged. “Rikar wants one for Thanksgiving.”

Momentarily distracted from keeping her candy safe, Myst blinked and swung in her direction. Giving her the once over, her mouth curved. “You’re going to bake a…a…”

“Pie.” Registering her friend’s disbelief, Angela tossed her a dirty look. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing.” Struggling to keep a straight face, Myst cleared her throat. “But you do realize we’re talking about you…a kick-ass never go anywhere without a gun kind of girl?”

“I’m well rounded,” Angela murmured, adjusting the Glock concealed under her leather jacket.

“Sure, you are,” Myst said, violet eyes sparkling. “You’re a regular Martha Stewart…packing heat while—”

“Oh, Lady Angela!” His flair for the dramatic riding shotgun, Daimler clasped his hands together. His gold front tooth winked as he smiled and bounced on the balls of his feet. “Wonderful! Such a lovely idea, but…”

Uh-oh. That didn’t sound good. Every time Daimler used the word but plans changed and culinary chaos followed. In a hurry. Even so, Angela braved the fallout. “But what?”

Leaning forward, the elf plucked the pie filling out of her grip. He set the can on the nearest shelf, then grabbed her hand. A slight tug full of major manipulation later, and she was headed toward the produce section, Myst and Tania in tow. 

Eyes bright with excitement, Daimler glanced over his shoulder at her. They blew past the frozen food isle. “Canned filling will never do. We must get a real pumpkin. Make everything from scratch. I will teach you how.”

God help her. She was in so much trouble. Way over her head with a culinary wizard who didn’t understand her limitations in a kitchen. Making desert from scratch, after all, was light years from pouring ready-made filling into a frozen pie shell. But as Daimler stopped in front of a wooden bin full of pumpkins and said, “pick one, my lady”, Angela didn’t have the heart to disappoint him. He was past the point of no return. And she was so screwed, ’cause yeah…

Love and pumpkins. Cinderella had nothing on her.

© Coreene Callahan

The day I’ve been waiting for has arrived! The House of Starlight and Shadow, book 1 in the Mirror Kingdom Chronicles is here. I had a ton of fun (and a few “what the heck?”) moments while writing about Truly and wild world she’s thrown into when she accidentally opens a portal into another realm.

So much action. So much adventure. So much magic, mayhem and more than a few mystical creatures along the way. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I am.

Here’s where to buy The House of Starlight and Shadow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBQXMJ3V/

Happy Reading! And if you have a minute, please leave an honest review after reading The House of Starlight and Shadow. It’ll help other readers like you find and enjoy my books too!

xx 
Coreene

The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles book 1

From Amazon Bestselling Author Coreene Callahan comes a spellbinding novel about a woman born to stand in the breach between parallel worlds where revolution is imminent, honor means little, and the stakes are life and death.

Truly Langford-Bardot has spent her life pretending to be normal. No one knows about the monsters that stalk her sleep, or that she was left inside a cardboard box on the steps of a church as a newborn. Raised in foster care on the tough streets of Philadelphia, she learned to take care of herself and trust no one.

After being forced out of her dream job, she’s working a dead-end one when a mysterious stranger arrives with proof she’s heiress to a Victorian mansion in a ramshackle neighborhood. But upon entering her new home, Truly accidentally unlocks a door to a magical realm, releasing an ancient evil from its prison—along with a dark family secret.

Hunted by those who rule the mirror kingdom, Truly comes face-to-face with Westvane, the queen’s slayer, and is given an ultimatum—help him recapture the monster she set free and kill the queen, or be executed for opening a portal to another world.

The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles book 2

From Amazon Bestselling Author Coreene Callahan comes the second novel in her heart-stopping series about a warrior caught in the crosshairs between parallel worlds and the woman battling to pull them back from the brink of war.

Considered an abomination by the dominant class in his world, Westvane is reviled for the mixed-blood in his veins. Caged on the outskirts of society, he’s spent decades alone, waiting to strike at the queen who imprisoned him as a child. After years of isolation, he finally gets his chance, only to be thrust through a magical portal into another world.

Trapped on the other side with no way home, he comes nose-to-sword-point with the queen’s rival.

As the last Door Master, Truly Turnbolt holds the key to both kingdoms, threatening the queen’s brutal grip on his world. When tensions ignite, a dangerous idea leads to a perilous choice—lend justice a hand by joining forces with Truly on her quest to topple a tyrannical regime. Or use the Door Master as bait to exact his revenge before the queen uncovers the truth and sends her executioners to kill him.

Release date: March 2024

Are you excited? I know I’m excited! I can hardly wait for you to get your hands on THE HOUSE OF STARLIGHT AND SHADOW. The first book in my new Mirror Kingdom Chronicles hits the book-o-sphere on October 31st, just in time to scare you, cuz it’s got all kind of wild creatures that go bump in the night.

Pick up your copy today here – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBQXMJ3V/

If you do, The House of Starlight and Shadow will automatically land on your e-reader the second the book drops. Print copies of the book will go on sale on Oct. 31st as well, so you can get it in whatever bookish format that sends tingles down your spine.

Happy reading!

xo,

Coreene

“Phenomenal! I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!” ~ ARC reader

Yes, you read that right…

I’m giving away 100 e-book copies of The House of Starlight and Shadow (The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles book 1) on Goodreads! You’ve got 100 chances to WIN, so don’t delay — Enter Today!

Click the link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/375769-the-house-of-starlight-shadow

* Contest ends Oct. 31st *

Yes, you read that right. FURY OF DENIAL is FREE for limited time!

If you haven’t read Fury of Denial, here’s your chance. Tell all your friends, that way they can get Wallaig and Amantha’s story for free too.

Here’s the direct link – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X13M4BZ/

Also, if you’re looking to beef up your e-book collection so you can hibernate like a bear this winter, there’s a great FREE ROMANCE BOOKS promotion happening right now. Scroll through the list and download all the FREE books you want here – https://www.romancebookworms.com – until Sept. 22nd.

Happy reading!

~ Coreene

So, here’s the skinny…

So, some news…

I got another call from the dragon warriors in Scotland. Well, just from Levin actually. He took one look at his image on the cover of FURY OF MISFORTUNE and said “No bleepity-bleeping way.” So naturally, he hacked into my video feed again to voice his displeasure.

Apparently, word of my books has spread to the rest of Magickind. Everybody’s reading them, and now (according to Levin), I’m messing with his ability to move in the shadowy, covert circles where he usually goes undetected. All his CIs are freaking out, so I decided to throw him a bone and have a little fun with the covers. Which means…

The Dragonfury Scotland Series just got a facelift – BRAND NEW COVERS for all the books. And let me just say…I freaking LOVE them!

Hop over and find all the new covers here – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5VRBTGF/

ALSO…

I made a video all about the new covers. Find it here – https://youtube.com/shorts/L2qY2FqCfks?feature=share

While you hop over to look at the shiny, bright and new Dragonfury Series covers, be sure to check out THE HOUSE OF STARLIGHT & SHADOW.

Book 1 of the Mirror Kingdom Chronicles hits book shelves (digital and otherwise) October 31, 2023.

Preorder is LIVE, so grab your copy now. If you do, it’ll help other readers find my books, and I’d truly appreciate it!

Enjoy and happy reading!

Cheers,

Coreene

Hi there!

Have I mentioned the dragon-warriors visit me from time-to-time? Last week, I got a call from Scotland.

Chatting with the guys never gets old. And since you enjoy Dragonkind warriors as much as I do, I know you’ll get a kick out of having the inside scoop. Scroll down to read about my late night call with the Scottish pack.

Enjoy!
xx,
Coreene

My writing lair: July 17, 2023 – 12:37 AM

I’m not a night owl, but staying up past midnight happens sometimes. Tonight is one of those nights. I blame John Wick. JW 4 has me glued to my screen, headphones of the Princess Leia bun variety covering my ears, making the outside world go still. My internal world, though, is picking up threads, watching the action, cataloguing John’s moves, feeding interesting tidbits to my imagination like a zookeeper does a carnivore.

It’s a carnival. A balancing act, keeping my appetite for stories well-fed, but as the pieces start to settle (and John picks up a gun), I notice something strange. The light at the top of my screen blinks twice, then stays on. Red dot instead of black spot. A clear sign the camera on my laptop has been activated remotely.

I should be creeped out. I should find a sticky note and slap it over the lens. Or turn off the WiFi.

A couple of clicks will do it, but instead of freaking out, I wait, bowl of chips close, gaze riveted to the screen, the staccato of gunfire beating in my ears as John kicks ass and bad guys fall.

After a second or two, what I assume will happen happens.

The laptop goes dark. A single line of code crawls across my screen. A prompt, the rapid flash of a curser accompanied by the sound of typing and—

“Why cannae we see her?” a deep voice with a thick Scottish accent asks. “Is the bloody thing even working?”

Someone sighs. Sounds impatient, then…

“Shut up, Ran. Let me concentrate.”

“Legit question, Lev.” A third guy, one who’s voice I recognize instantly. Vyroth, identical twin to Cyprus (commander of the Scottish pack). “This needs tae get done under the radar—before our lasses come back.”

“You mean—find out,” Levin grumbles over the furious click of typing. “I cannae believe I let you talk me into this shite.”

“I donnae know what yer worried about,” Rannock says, voice full of gravel…and a whole lot of edge. The kind that usually ends with someone getting their head ripped off. “Priya doesn’t have a dog in this fight. Yer mate willnae care if we talk tae her. Niki and Cate on the other hand—”

Levin snorts. “Have you met my mate? She has a dog in every fight.”

“Journalists,” Rannock mutters. “So bloody nosy.”

“Necessary evil,” Vyroth says. “Have you seen the list of big stories Priya’s broken?”

“So she’s a Rockstar…whatever.” The low growl echoes through the line. Rannock again, sounding even more pissed off. “Lev—”

“Pulling her into this isn’t a good idea.”

“Donnae give me that, mon.” A creak interrupts the audio, and I imagine Vyroth leaning back in his chair. “You wanna talk tae her just as much as we do.”
Rannock grunts. “Mayhap even more.”

“You wouldn’t be hacking into her feed if you didn’t,” Vyroth says, his tone so reasonable Levin curses, making me want to laugh.

Lifting my feet off the ottoman, I push out of my slouch. As I sit up, I listen to more rapid-fire typing and the shuffling of feet. Chair springs squeak. One of the guys mutters something under his breath. Snowy static blows across the computer screen. The video feed flickers before dragon warriors appear in living color.

Multiple pairs of eyes narrow on me. One set ice blue, the second hard, metallic bronze, the third mismatched, one iris pale violet, the other electric blue.

I stare at the trio.

All three scowl back at me.

Planting his hand on the desktop, Rannock moves closer.

I cut him off just as he opens his mouth to speak. “I know why you’re calling, but I don’t have anything yet.”

Levin’s dark blond brows pop up. “Nothing?”

“At all?” Vyroth asks.

Orange-bronze shimmer fires in Rannock’s eyes. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know,” I say fast as he glares at me. “I know about as much as you do. Biscayne’s still hiding out in Grampian Mountain Range. He’s cleared out of the Fae village and taken Tamarack and his followers with him. I told you before—when I get a line on Legion, you’ll be the first to know. Though…”

I pause.

Levin’s focus sharpens on me. “What?”

“I may have a lead. There’s a woman in Biscayne’s encampment who—”

“Of course, there is.” Vyroth sighs and looks skyward. “When isn’t there a woman?”

Ignoring the sarcasm, I sail past the interruption. “If I can get a message to her, she may be able to help.”

“Is she in trouble?” Vyroth asks.

Levin throws his packmate an incredulous look. “Of course, she’s in trouble, mon. In way over her head if she’s tangled up with the likes of Biscayne and Legion.”

“Her name, Scribe,” Rannock growls, calling me by the handle all dragon warriors use when talking to me.

“Ran—”

“He’s right. We need a name.” Planting his forearm on the desktop, Levin shoves Rannock aside and leans in, leveling icy eyes on me. “As soon as you have it, Scribe…aye?”

Suppressing a shiver, I nod.

He continues, “Check yer inbox. I’m sending you an encrypted link. Any new information, you send it through tae me. No delays. We need tae know where Biscayne sleeps.”

Vyroth hums in agreement. “And donnae forget about Grizgunn.”

“I haven’t,” I say. “The Danish pack is in the mix. They’re collaborating with Legion.”

“Bloody hell, lass,” Rannock grumbles. “You should’ve led with that intel.”

I frown. “I’m telling you now.”

Rannock scowls.

Levin shakes his head.

Lips twitching, Vyroth reaches for the keyboard. “Later, Scribe.”

“Later,” I mutter. “Say hi to the girls and Lapier for me.”

I get three chin lifts a second before Vyroth hits a key. My screen goes dark. The red light on my laptop blinks off. The movie starts playing again, and I’m left sitting in my writing lair, wondering about the mystery woman embedded inside the enemy camp and how she could be the key to everything as John Wick wreaks havoc in Japan.

© Coreene Callahan 2023

Following me on Amazon is a good way to keep up with my latest releases. They’ll send you an email as a reminder, so you never miss out!

Click Here to Follow Me on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3DBNPBb

Did you hear? Fury of Misfortune has arrived! Levin and Priya set the pages on fire. Their love story is full of action and adventure…and more than its fair share of mayhem.

A few surprise guests show up in Fury of Misfortune (and create even more fun-filled chaos), so if you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, get it here – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS1SCD4C/

ALSO… 
Exciting news! 
I’ve been hard at work writing a new series. The House of Starlight and Shadow (book 1 of The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles) will be released October 31, 2023. Yes, on Halloween. Very fitting given the action-packed, paranormal story. Scroll down to check out the fabulous book cover and read the book blurb.

I hope you’re having lots of fun in the sun this summer. 
Happy Reading! 
xx 
Coreene

Fury of Misfortune

(Dragonfury Scotland Series)

When honor demands the ultimate sacrifice…

A skilled covert operator, Scottish dragon-warrior Levin moves in shadowy circles, risking death every night to protect his pack. But when the balance of power tilts, the world he knows spins out of control, leaving an innocent woman in his enemy’s crosshairs. Caught between his mission and duty, he hesitates to save her, causing him to question his tactics along with his integrity.

Investigative reporter, Priya Burman has dedicated her life to righting wrongs. When a panicked message sets her on the trail of a cult leader, she steps into the line of fire to help her friend, only to be taken prisoner by a madman who will do anything to keep his followers in check. As sinister forces grow more powerful, she and Levin navigate a perilous landscape, battling the darkness to drag the truth into the light.

Can a dragon-shifter with an agenda and a reporter with a cause work together to bring about justice? Or must one sacrifice it all to eliminate the threat?

Release date: July 18, 2023

From Amazon Bestselling Author Coreene Callahan comes a spellbinding novel about a woman born to stand in the breech between parallel worlds where revolution is imminent, honor means little, and the stakes are life and death.

Truly Langford-Bardot has spent her life pretending to be normal. No one knows about the monsters that stalk her sleep, or that she was left inside a cardboard box on the steps of a church as a newborn. Raised in foster care on the tough streets of Philadelphia, she learned to take care of herself and trust no one.

After being forced out of her dream job, she’s working a dead-end one when a mysterious stranger arrives with proof she’s heiress to a Victorian mansion in a ramshackle neighborhood. But upon entering her new home, Truly accidentally unlocks a door to a magical realm, releasing an ancient evil from its prison—along with a dark family secret.

Hunted by those who rule the mirror kingdom, Truly comes face-to-face with Westvane, the queen’s slayer, and is given an ultimatum—help him recapture the monster she set free and kill the queen, or be executed for opening a portal to another world.

Series: Mirror Kingdom Chronicles (book 1)

Release date: October 31, 2023

Woo, boy. The first book in my new series, THE HOUSE OF STARLIGHT AND SHADOW, is out in the wild!

The House of Starlight and Shadow (The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles) will be released on Oct. 31, 2023. Yes, on Halloween. Very fitting given the action-packed, paranormal-driven story. I’m both nervous and excited about launching the new series. I love Truly and Westvane so much, I can hardly wait for you to meet them!

PREORDER is available now – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBQXMJ3V/

Here’s the book blurb:

From Amazon Bestselling Author Coreene Callahan comes a spellbinding novel about a woman born to stand in the breech between parallel worlds where revolution is imminent, honor means little, and the stakes are life and death.

Truly Langford-Bardot has spent her life pretending to be normal. No one knows about the monsters that stalk her sleep, or that she was left inside a cardboard box on the steps of a church as a newborn. Raised in foster care on the tough streets of Philadelphia, she learned to take care of herself and trust no one.

After being forced out of her dream job, she’s working a dead-end one when a mysterious stranger arrives with proof she’s heiress to a Victorian mansion in a ramshackle neighborhood. But upon entering her new home, Truly accidentally unlocks a door to a magical realm, releasing an ancient evil from its prison—along with a dark family secret.

Hunted by those who rule the mirror kingdom, Truly comes face-to-face with Westvane, the queen’s slayer, and is given an ultimatum—help him recapture the monster she set free and kill the queen, or be executed for opening a portal to another world.