Gossamer in the Darkness, an all-new magical novella in the Fantasyland Series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!

 

 Amazon  |  Amazon Worldwide  |  Paperback

 

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Blurb

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Fantasyland series…

Their engagement was set when they were children. Loren Copeland, the rich and handsome Marquess of Remington, would marry Maxine Dawes, the stunning daughter of the Count of Derryman. It’s a power match. The perfect alliance for each house.

However, the Count has been keeping secret a childhood injury that means Maxine can never marry. He’s done this as he searches for a miracle so this marriage can take place. He needs the influence such an alliance would give him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have it.

The time has come. There could be no more excuses. No more delays. The marriage has to happen, or the contract will be broken.

When all seems lost, the Count finds his miracle: There’s a parallel universe where his daughter has a twin. He must find her, bring her to his world and force her to make the Marquess fall in love with her.

And this, he does.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

 

 

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Review

4.5 stars!

Like settling under a fluffy blanket, I picked this book up and snuggled right into the unique storytelling of Kristen Ashley and one of my favourite fantasy worlds for a gorgeous romance with all the feisty attitude that I love from her heroines, and an irresistible alpha hero that stole my heart.

This novella is set within Ashley’s Fantasyland series, taking place years into the future, after the events of The Rising series. It’s helpful to know the Fantasyland world before diving into this one, and there are also some wonderful cameos from both series, which will obviously mean more to those who have read all the books.

Years ago, when they were children, Loren and Maxine were betrothed to be married. It was an advantageous match for Maxine’s father who was greedy for the power and notoriety that would come from having his daughter marry into the aristocracy. So when his young daughter had an accident which left her disabled and “unfit” for marriage, he broke all the rules by finding a witch who can access a parallel universe (our world) to find his daughter’s ‘twin’ and bring her back to his world to uphold the marriage bargain.

And so, real-world Maxine is thrust into a whole new world that is a mix between a Disney movie and a renaissance fair. She’s enamoured by its beauty, but it completely under the thumb of her ruthless ‘father’ who is holding the lives of her real-world mother, and fantasy-world twin against her unless she marries Loren, the Marquess of Remington.

It’s a great set-up, made all the more awesome because Loren and Maxine (now going by the name Satrine to avoid confusion with her ‘twin’), are absolutely fantastic! Loren is pure KA alpha goodness – loyal, protective, kind brave, and a badass. He’s a bit of a player, but from his first interaction with Satrine, he’s fully committed, and determined to claim the wild young woman. Satrine is so much fun. She’s taken to her new world brilliantly, though makes the odd slip in her language and behaviour which keeps things entertaining.

There’s an immediate attraction between them, and suddenly the whole arranged marriage thing isn’t looking so bad! But Satrine has no idea what her place is in her new world, and whether she’ll ever be able to get back to her own. And Loren is dealing with his own darkness – he’s done bad things in his past, and doesn’t want to bring that down on the bright ray of sunshine that is Satrine.

They have a lot to figure out, and along the way they’re getting to know each other and their feelings for each other grow, and it’s absolutely beautiful to watch!

“Don’t let me go.”
Her lips parted.
“My hold is slipping, Satrine, don’t let me go.”
“Your hold on what?”
“On anything that is good in this world.”

The romance is playful and fun, with a strong emotional element. Neither Loren nor Satrine hold back from each other, diving right in and enjoying everything that they’re feeling, and it’s romantic, flirty and super passionate, and they fall naturally, effortlessly in love.

“I love you to my soul. It’s like you’re a part of me. I’m scared as fuck of losing you,” he whispered.
Her face grew tender. “I can’t tell the future, honey, but right now, I’m right here.”
“Come to me,” he ordered.
“Meet in the middle?” she offered.
“Fuck yes,” he replied.

With all that they need to figure out between them, there is some drama, but it’s short-lived, and this is a beautifully functional romance that completely swept me away.

“You may think you’re dark,” I told him. “And I’m finding you are. Dark like this.” I indicated the room with a sweep of my flute. “Edged in gossamer and crystal. Lit with fire. A beautiful cocoon where I feel safe, truly safe, for the first time in my life.”
His voice was now thick, and that fire was burning into me from his eyes.
“Sweeting.”
I leaned into him and whispered, “so stay dark, my handsome man. I’ll take you precisely as you come.”

There’s a great cast of side characters that bring a lot to the story. Satrine’s mother is fantastic, as is Loren’s Dad and his friends. God, I’d love more from this series!

I loved this book. It’s a great read with fantastic characters and a gorgeous romance. A must-read for fans of the Fantasyland series.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Fantasyland

 

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Excerpt

She sat across from him at his breakfast table in the conservatory, the beams of the sun gilding her hair, her face aimed to the windows, watching the birds at their bath.

He was dressed, but she was wrapped in his dressing gown. It was too big for her. But it was all they had for the now as he refused to button her into a gown she’d worn just the day before. He’d sent word to Corliss to have her maid, her apparel and her toilette directed to his townhome so she could face the day fresh, preparing to do so there.

More importantly, this also meant he got to keep her longer.

“Stop watching me,” she told the window. “It’s ridiculously romantic. I’m melting in a puddle over here.”

He grinned at his coffee cup, his attention remaining on her over the rim as he took a sip.

She turned in the midst of this, watched his actions, and her gaze heated yet again.

“You’re a walking, talking, eating, drinking-coffee, sex-god hero from a romance novel,” she groused.

“I love you think that, though I’m perplexed as to why this seems to put you in a foul mood,” he noted, returning his cup to its saucer.

“I can’t jump you over the table due to your injury, that’s why,” she explained.

He raised a brow. “Did I not prove my creativity this morning?”

“The bit where you were on your knees could have torn your stitches.”

The tone of her response communicated she was now being very serious.

“Again, darling, I’m fine,” he said in the same tone.

“How worried should I be about this bordello woman you’ve angered?” she asked.

And there it was.

“You shouldn’t worry at all.”

“Loren—”

 

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About Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books.

Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.

 

For more great reads, check out our Kristen Ashley Author Spotlight!