I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you all (even though I've shared this several times before, lol)! The release date for my next MM romance is officially set, and I am so thrilled to finally let you in on the details.

My Family will be releasing on September 17th!

This story has a very special place in my heart. As the title suggests, it leans heavily into one of my absolute favorite themes: chosen family. There is something so profoundly beautiful about the bonds we build not through blood, but through shared experiences, deep understanding, and the active choice to show up for one another.

Writing this book got me thinking a lot about the people we pull into our orbits who end up becoming our truest support systems, which brings me to a couple of questions for you. I always love hearing from you, and I’d love to know:

• Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to choose your own family? Who are those people for you, and how did they become such an integral part of your life?

• What are your favorite MM romance reads that feature the chosen family trope? My TBR pile is always hungry for more, and there’s nothing quite like sharing great recommendations within this community.

Hit reply and let me know your thoughts—I read every single email!

Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more. You can pre-order it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZMBPCTM

I will also put Book 3 up for pre-order too :eyes: cover reveal, anyone?

I'm writing it now, and it feels like a whole pregnancy (for those of you who have ever been pregnant, you know what I mean). It's hard.

Also, I want you guys to know that my friend Roan has an amazing opportunity! YOU CAN GET HER BOOK FOR FREE HERE: https://tinyurl.com/HisHolyChaos-GRR

She's the one who drew this amazing image:

And I'm too obsessed. I know I've shared it before, but here it goes again! Haha!

Have a great week, and I'll talk to you next week!

XOXO,

Ivory

We've been going through some changes over here. My sister and I decided to create separate social media accounts, so we have more space to share each of our books <3 So, from now on, you will see me, Ivory, yapping here solo.

Talking about “solo”, I've been collaborating with all sorts of artists. You will see some AMAZING new art, especially for the Aspire Academy series (which I have some very exciting news: Book 2 is coming on September 17th! You can pre-order it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZMBPCTM)

(I am truly obsessed with this cover, BTW!)

Also, make sure to follow me on my new Instagram. You can check all of the new art there: https://www.instagram.com/ivorysallowauthor/

One of the artists that I've been working with has also just launched a new book! Her pen name is Roan Solano, and I read it firsthand and think it's the most amazing, so you should check it out too if you like: Daddy/boy, spankings, a kink club, a brat, single dad trope, and loads of banter.

Here's one of the pieces of art that I commissioned from her, and HOW AMAZING is this?

Her TikTok is this, and you should go follow her: https://www.tiktok.com/@sebbylicious02

Also, this is the book she launched:

Definitely go take a look here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H7QPLN25

These are the news so far. Phew, quite a lot!

Let me know if you do pre-order My Family or if you check His Holy Chaos!

Have a great week <3

XOXO,

Ivory

Hi lovelies,

I was having a chat recently with a writer friend of mine, and the topic of success came up. He confessed that despite having dedicated fans who love his stories, he doesn’t actually consider himself successful. For him, the ultimate benchmark is being able to write full-time and live completely off his book sales. Because he isn’t quite there yet, he feels like he is falling short.

His perspective really got me thinking about what success actually means in this journey of writing MM romance.

For me, the definition is completely different. Success isn’t a specific financial threshold, a bestseller tag, or a sales ranking. Success is knowing that even just one person has picked up my book and it has had a positive influence on them.

If my words can make you smile, make your heart flutter, or simply help you escape the stress of reality for just a second, then I have succeeded. Knowing that my stories can be a safe haven, spark genuine emotion, or provide a momentary escape is the absolute greatest achievement I could ever ask for. That emotional connection is everything.

Before I started publishing, my biggest dream was to be read by at least one person. Nowadays, I'm so lucky to be able to say that I've been read by much more than only one. I feel extremely grateful for that.

I want to take a moment to say a massive thank you. Thank you to every single one of you who reads my books and lets my characters into your world. Thank you for giving my stories a chance to make you feel something, and most importantly, thank you for being here with me for this.

And now I want to know:

What is success to you?

Tell me your success stories. I want to read all of them. Let's spread positivity in a world of so much negativity.

As for the promos:

This week's books are here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmromancejuly/wzui53b91r

With so much love and gratitude,

Ivory

Ivory here!

We have some very exciting news!

We are starting to completely revamp our visual identity!

As we continue to write and share our MM romance stories with you, we wanted our visual presence to be more professional and to truly reflect the heart of our books. We write to explore complex relationships, personal growth, and deep emotions. Because of that, we realized we needed a brand that was as sophisticated, artistic, and timeless as the stories we strive to tell.

Our intention with this rebrand is to ensure that opening our profile feels exactly like opening the first page of a new book. Here is a summary of what you can expect from our new visual universe:

• The Vibe: The new design is highly editorial, minimalist, and elegant. We are moving away from anything visually polluted or heavily trend-dependent, focusing instead on a contemporary and romantic aesthetic.

• The Inspiration: Our visual universe is deeply inspired by old books, textured paper, contemporary editorials, and art galleries.

• The Color Palette: You will notice a calming and sophisticated blend of colors, heavily featuring Ivory, Lavender, Violet Dust, Sage, and Warm Taupe. These are supported by soft pastels and grounding neutrals like Warm Gray and Soft Charcoal.

• Delicate Details: To complement our stories without competing with them, we are using subtle graphic elements like botanical branches, minimalist stars, delicate moons, and fine frames.

More than just publishing books, we want to create experiences where you can feel, reflect, and fall in love with characters that stay in your memory.

If you aren’t already following us on our social media platforms and our TikTok space, please come join us! We would love for you to see the new look in action as we continue to share our favorite quotes, character introductions, and the behind-the-scenes creation of our couples.

This is a little bit of our new vibe!

OUR TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivoryandviolet

OUR INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ivoryandvioletsallowauthors/

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565284243746

I really hope to see you there <3

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

And these are the promos for the week:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/julymmromance/6kp1gh65wq

https://books.bookfunnel.com/queerromanceisresistancejuly2026/qd4mnxx8ag

https://books.bookfunnel.com/queerromanceisresistancejuly2026/a6q13yl8l2

With love,

Ivory & Violet Sallow

Ivory here.

Today, we are tackling the ultimate reader dilemma. We were having a massive debate about this recently, and it turns out, we are completely divided. Violet loves the classics. If it doesn’t have a spine to crack and pages to turn, she doesn’t want it. She only reads physical books and completely refuses to touch an e-reader.

I, on the other hand, am playing both sides. I love them both, but I have a confession to make: my reading habits are a little chaotic. Like myself.

Here is how I usually operate: I will often buy both versions of the exact same book. I end up actually reading the ebook because it's more practical. It’s lightweight, I can read in the dark, and I can carry an entire library of romance in my bag. But I buy the physical paperback just to have it. While I’m tapping away on my e-reader, I will literally keep the physical copy nearby just to pick it up and smell the pages. There is absolutely nothing like that new-book scent!

(Sometimes I buy the audio version too)

If you are torn like I am, here is how the pros and cons break down in our eyes:

Why Ebooks:

• You can read anywhere, anytime, with one hand.

• You finish book one at 2:00 AM and can instantly download book two.

• No one on the train needs to know exactly how spicy the book you are reading really is.

No, Physical Books!

• They look gorgeous on a shelf and you get to physically hold that beautiful cover art.

• You never have to worry about your book dying right before the main characters finally get together.

• The undisputed champion of the physical book experience.

Are you strictly a physical book reader like Violet, an ebook loyalist, or a chaotic dual-reader like me? Hit reply and let me know which team you are on!

This week, we have:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/julymmromancenewsletter/gnjy19h7q4

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/queerromanceisresistancejuly2026/a6q13yl8l2

And here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/queerromanceisresistancejuly2026/qd4mnxx8ag

Happy reading,

XOXO

I have a confession to make today. Do I judge books by their covers?

... Sometimes, yes.

Now, I don’t mean that I’ll refuse to read a book just because the cover doesn’t appeal to me. But have I ever looked at a gorgeous cover and immediately thought, “Well... now I have to know what this is about”? Absolutely!

A beautiful cover tells me someone cared. That they wanted to capture the feeling of the story before I’d even read the first page. When Ivory and I decided to publish The Art of Becoming and My Responsibility, we knew from the very beginning that we wanted illustrated covers. And we wanted our characters on them.

Partly because we’re both terribly self-indulgent and love commissioning art of our characters. 🤭 But also because we wanted readers to meet Arthur, Johannes, Liam, and Ethan before they ever opened the books.

The cover of The Art of Becoming was illustrated by the incredibly talented Lady Lluan, whom I originally discovered because of a shared love for a certain very famous fanfiction couple: Drarry. (Yes—Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. 😂)

She illustrated one of my favorite moments in the entire book: one of Johannes’ first visits to the Elysian, the exclusive club where Arthur works as a dancer. Johannes requests Arthur’s company in one of the club’s private rooms. Arthur spends the entire encounter reminding himself that he’s just doing his job. But even in that very first meeting, they’re already completely captivated by each other.

I think Lady Luan captured that feeling perfectly. The way they’re looking at each other. The tension. The curiosity. The softness that’s already there.

If you’d like to see more of her work, I highly recommend following her on Instagram and VGen.

https://vgen.co/ladylluan

https://www.instagram.com/ladylluan/

(I’m also very excited to share that Lady Luan will be illustrating the cover of my next novel as well! 🤭 So yes... that project is officially far enough along that we’re already talking about cover art. I can’t wait to show you more when the time comes!)

The cover of My Responsibility, on the other hand, was illustrated by the wonderful Camie, who worked with Ivory to bring Liam and Ethan’s story to life. The focus is Liam, one of the protagonists, while Ethan is left mostly to the reader’s imagination. 🤭

And you can already tell, just by looking at the cover, that these two don’t exactly get off to the friendliest start. 😅🤣

Camie is an incredible artist as well, and we highly recommend checking out her work on Tumblr and Instagram!

https://www.tumblr.com/ohnoballoons

https://www.instagram.com/ohnoballoons/

Publishing indie books often means wearing a hundred different hats—but one of the best parts is getting to collaborate with artists whose work you genuinely admire. 💜

Have you ever picked up a book simply because the cover made you stop scrolling? Because I definitely have.

Here are today's promos for your delight:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/hotboysummerjuly/ncg3sqn4ki

https://books.bookfunnel.com/julymmromance/6kp1gh65wq

See you next week!

Today I’d like to talk about something that has always mildly baffled both Ivory and me: every now and then, we’ll see someone say, “I never read books in first person”; or, just as often, “I never read books in third person.” And every single time, our reaction is pretty much: “...Really?” 🤣

Don’t get me wrong—everyone is entitled to their preferences. But we’ve always found this to be such a funny hill to die on.

Growing up reading fanfiction, I remember first person was almost universally looked down upon. People often associated it with self-insert stories, as if writing “I” automatically meant the author was inserting themselves into the fictional world. Whether that was fair or not is another discussion—but it definitely shaped the way that particular community viewed first-person narration. Which just goes to show that these “rules” are far from universal.

Imagine my surprise when I started reading original romance and found people saying the exact opposite. Suddenly, I was seeing readers say they couldn’t emotionally connect with characters unless the story was written in first person. Every time I see that, my brain short-circuits a little. Because... what do you mean?? 😭

If a story can’t make me emotionally connect with its characters, my first thought isn’t, “Ah, it must be the POV.” My first thought is, “Maybe it just isn’t doing its job.” POV isn’t what creates emotional connection. A well-written story can make you fall in love with a character whether they’re telling you the story themselves or whether you’re watching them from just over their shoulder.

Point of view is just another storytelling tool. Stephen King talks about every writer having a “toolbox”—a collection of techniques you reach for depending on the story you’re trying to tell. I think point of view belongs in that toolbox. Sometimes a story wants first person; sometimes it wants third. Sometimes changing the point of view would genuinely make the story worse.

For example, The Art of Becoming is written in third person, while Ivory’s My Responsibility is written in first. But that’s not because I “only write in third person” or because Ivory “only writes in first”: we simply chose the point of view that felt right for each story. Swap the POVs, and I think both books would lose something essential.

That’s why I’ve never really understood deciding whether or not to read a book based solely on whether it says “I” or “he.” To me, that’s a little like refusing to watch a movie because it was filmed with a different camera lens.

Do you guys have a preference when it comes to POV? Or do you, like us, simply go wherever the story wants to take you?

Now, I’ll leave you with this week’s promos.

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/5ifbh8v8g1/a6k5f9xfad

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm_turnsuptheheatt_mm/3809oe82kz

Enjoy, and I’ll see you again next week! 💜

Today I wanted to recommend a book to you, because, as you know, Ivory and I love shining a light on indie authors whose work we genuinely admire.

But before I talk about this particular book, I have a confession to make: I’m a huge nerd.

You might not guess it from the books I write, but my favorite genre to read is actually (ahem) fantasy. I’m currently reading the fourth Wheel of Time book. I recommend Mistborn to absolutely everyone I know (seriously—even Ivory has been subjected to that), and if you ask me what the greatest series of all time is, I’ll say The Lord of the Rings without hesitation.

So you can imagine how intrigued I was when I stumbled across Chosen of the Moon, which author Lynn Kerrigan describes as “a high fantasy BL about a warrior king and a male druid made queen.”

I mean... are you kidding me?? That sounds like it was made specifically for me!

I’ll admit I was very curious to see how the story was going to convince me that an arranged marriage between two men—one of them the prophesied king of his kingdom—would make sense. It absolutely did.

I was also a little skeptical that a male druid being recognized as queen would work for me. It absolutely did.

Lynn pulls it off because the mythology behind her worldbuilding supports every bit of it. The world feels cohesive, thoughtful, and completely in service of the story she’s telling.

Skyre, the warrior king, and Cerys, the druid, are both fascinating characters. Cerys completely won me over: I wanted to know more about him from the very first moment he was mentioned. And their relationship is such a joy to follow: a slow build that is sometimes frustrating, sometimes incredibly tender, and unexpectedly made me laugh out loud more than once. 🤣

Watching Skyre slowly surrender and become hopelessly emotionally dependent on Cerys was deeply satisfying. Everyone knows that, in my books, the bottoms always have their tops wrapped around their little finger, so thank you very much for that, Lynn. 😌🤭

Lynn’s writing voice is wonderful, too. It feels unique in a way that’s becoming so rare! In a world full of AI-generated content and increasingly homogenized commercial fiction, her prose feels like a genuine breath of fresh air.

One small note, though: this isn’t your typical MM romance. I completely understand why Lynn describes it as BL/danmei rather than strictly MM romance. But it’s absolutely worth it, especially if you’ve been looking to try something a little different. 😉

You can check it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Moon-Cullachian-Book-English-ebook/dp/B0GXHKL8XL

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming! Let’s get to this week’s group promos. The first one is especially exciting because My Responsibility, by Ivory Sallow, is currently on sale for just $2.99 on Amazon for a limited time. Grab it while you can!

(new Lithan art just dropped, haha)

You can get it HERE for $2.99 (and KU, of course): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

This week's promos:

YOU CAN GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/hotboysummerjune/44v6kqnxaq

YOU CAN GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm_romanceunder5_mm/4j489d351b

We’ll talk again next week. Until then! 💜

XOXO,

This week, we’re bringing you a collection of books featuring a trope we are very fond of around here: billionaire boyfriends.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm-billionaire-boyfriends/1buo881dh6

Ivory is always joking that scenes of characters living luxurious lives, eating incredible food, drinking outrageously expensive wine, or showering each other with extravagant gifts are, to her, more lust-inducing than half the smut she reads. 🤣 And I think a lot of readers would agree.

Which raises an interesting question: why do we love billionaire boyfriends so much?

Maybe it’s the fantasy. Maybe it’s the glamour. Maybe it’s the idea of someone having the means to give the person they love absolutely everything they could ever want. Or maybe it’s just fun to spend a few hundred pages hanging out in beautiful houses and eating food we’d never be able to afford in real life.

Whatever the reason, I certainly had a great time writing one. In The Art of Becoming, Arthur ends up with an extremely wealthy boyfriend of his own: Johannes. 😌

Now, if you ask me whether Johannes is technically a millionaire or a billionaire, I honestly have no idea. He runs a criminal empire. I have absolutely no clue how many dollars that translates to.

What I do know is that he has all the billionaire boyfriend essentials: impeccable suits, a stunning mansion, expensive cars, security teams, private drivers, and, most importantly, an endless capacity for spoiling Arthur.

Flowers. Clothes. Jewelry. Fine wine. Fancy restaurants. Invitations to places Arthur would never be able to visit on his own budget. If Johannes notices Arthur likes something, there is a very real risk that it will mysteriously appear in his life shortly afterward.

The funny thing is that I deliberately kept Johannes’ world a little vague and mysterious in this book, because the story is told entirely from Arthur’s perspective. Arthur spends most of the novel looking at that world from the outside, trying to understand it himself.

Which means there are still plenty of things even I haven’t shown you yet... If I ever write a sequel, I’d love the opportunity to explore more of Johannes’ world, his business, his family, and what life looks like after the events of the first book.

Do we have any readers here who have already read The Art of Becoming? And if so... would you be interested in a sequel? 👀🤭

If you want to try The Art of Becoming, you can get it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GFFZMHZX

Speaking of sequels...

I happen to know that Ivory is already hard at work on My Family, the sequel to My Responsibility. 👀 And if you haven’t read My Responsibility yet, this week’s June M/M Taboo & Kink Promo is the perfect excuse to fix that. 😌🤭

https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmabookinkjune2026/3hsatlaav8

It’s a story about finding love (and family) in the most unlikely place possible, featuring a relationship that definitely falls on the kinkier side of the spectrum.

Curious? You can grab your copy and see what all the fuss is about. 💜https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

XOXO,

Arthur is the protagonist of The Art of Becoming, and his birthday is June 3rd.

Hi, everyone! Violet here. I grew up playing RPGs, and whenever I had to choose a character’s birthday, I always based it on the zodiac sign I felt matched their personality. Apparently, that habit never left me. To this day, I usually know at least the sun sign, rising sign, and moon sign of my protagonists.

For Arthur, that ended up being Gemini Sun, Libra Rising, and Pisces Moon.

He works as a dancer and knows exactly how to charm people when he needs to. He spends half the book overthinking things. He trusts people more easily than he probably should. He’s an artist. He feels everything far too deeply. And despite everything he’s been through, he somehow never completely loses his ability to hope.

Of course, if Arthur gets a birth chart, it’s only fair that Johannes gets one too. And if Arthur’s chart is all feelings, art, charm, and questionable life choices, Johannes’ is... considerably more intimidating. 🤣

Johannes is Taurus Sun, Capricorn Rising, and Scorpio Moon.

Johannes is patient. Observant. Controlled. He’s the kind of person who decides what he wants and then pursues it with terrifying determination. He also appreciates beautiful things. Art. Architecture. Good restaurants. Beautiful people. 👀👀

Outwardly, he gives off the energy of someone who is always in control. Someone who can walk into a room and command attention without ever raising his voice.

But Johannes also loves intensely. Deeply. Quietly. He’s protective, territorial, fiercely loyal, and, in my humble opinion, dangerously attractive. 😌😂 Perhaps the Scorpio Moon explains why he spent most of the book trying to behave like a rational man while falling in love in a completely irrational way.

If you’d like to meet these two—and read the story of how they met and fell in love—you can grab your copy of The Art of Becoming here [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GFFZMHZX]. It’s also available through Kindle Unlimited!

Ivory also knows the birthdays of the protagonists of My Responsibility, the book she just published: Liam’s birthday is December 2nd, and Ethan’s is February 15th. And I happen to know there may or may not be a birthday celebration scene in the sequel. 👀

Haven’t read My Responsibility yet? Then don’t waste any more time and grab your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

It’s a story for readers who can’t resist characters finding love (and even a sense of family) in the most unlikely place possible. (it’s also for readers who enjoy a little spanking and daddy kink 😌) My Responsibility is also available through Kindle Unlimited!

Speaking of KU... This week, we’ve brought you a wonderful collection of queer romances you can find there:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/queerkuromances/uocx5i7mn8

And since we’re already talking about kink... How about a fresh batch of steamy MM romances for your TBR?

https://books.bookfunnel.com/steamymmromancebooks/l6k3vohmtr

So, fellow writers: do your characters have birthdays, or is that just an oddly specific thing we do?

We’ll talk again next week. Until then! 💜

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

I hope you are all having a wonderful June celebrating love in all its beautiful forms. To celebrate, I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you...

My Responsibility is OUT NOW!

I am so thrilled to finally welcome you to Aspire Academy and introduce you to Ethan and Liam. This story is a dark, slow-burn romance that holds a very special place in my heart. Watching these two navigate the razor-thin line between the rules and breaking them to find a home in each other has been an intense, emotional ride, and I can’t wait for you to experience it.

Here is what you can expect from Book 1:

Liam Marsal arrives at Aspire Academy with a bag of weed in his shoe, a smart mouth, and absolutely no intention of behaving himself.

Ethan Farley has spent three years building a perfect record at the facility’s correctional program. Perfect grades, perfect conduct, a carefully planned future. The last thing he needs is a reckless, blue-eyed troublemaker dismantling everything he’s worked for.

As Liam’s assigned student leader, Ethan is responsible for keeping him in line. The problem is that keeping Liam in line requires getting close to him. And getting close to him is the most dangerous thing Ethan has ever done.

Behind razor wire and locked doors, between punishment and forgiveness, between rules and the people who break them, something neither of them planned for begins to take shape. Something that looks a lot like home.

The Details & Tropes

• Genre: Dark MM Romance

• Dynamic: Bad Boy / Golden Boy

• Burn Rate: Slow Burn

• Tropes: Daddy Kink, Hurt/Comfort, Found Family, MMA, Touch him you die, No third act breakup, Strict Roles

• The Promise: HEA guaranteed.

Content Warnings

Please note: My Responsibility contains explicit content, power dynamics, and heavy themes including eating disorders, parental abuse, and institutional confinement, all handled within a story about two people learning to let someone in. Please read responsibly.

YOU CAN GET IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

Thank you so much for your continuous support, and I hope Ethan and Liam steal your heart just like they stole mine.

And, as usual, here are the week's promos!!

Please, get it here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/junemmromancenewsletter/ag8k26xct5

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/junemmromancebooks/y7cpg9efji

I want to also hear from you: how are you celebrating this month? Whether you're queer or an ally, we should all celebrate LOVE AND DIVERSITY!

Thank you to all of you that answer this, I love interacting with you all <3 it's special for us, it makes everything worth it.

Happy reading, and Happy Pride! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

XOXO,

Let's start with this week's book promos:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm_romanceunder5_mm/dihwz89dkx

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/springflingsmm2026/ekbll2kkr2

Now!

Let’s talk about something we don’t usually talk about around here: novellas.

If you’ve been hanging out with us for a while, you probably know that neither of us are huge novella readers—or writers, for that matter. Violet, especially, practically breaks out in a sweat at the thought of writing anything under 400 pages! We usually love getting lost in massive, full-length stories.

But recently, I (Ivory) decided to step outside of my usual reading habits and randomly picked up a baseball novella. Honestly? It was an absolute delight.

Because of the shorter page count, the story naturally moved at a much faster pace than what we usually gravitate toward. But despite the speed, it still managed to hit absolutely all the right spots. The chemistry, the tension, the payoff—it was all there, just packed into a perfectly bite-sized, incredibly satisfying read. It really opened my eyes to how much impact an author can pack into a smaller word count.

If you're curious, this was the novella I'm talking about: https://a.co/d/04ZbjASr

Now, we are super curious about your reading habits. What’s your stance on novellas and shorter stories in general?

Do you love a quick, punchy read you can devour in a single afternoon, or are you strictly a thick, full-length novel kind of reader?

Hit reply and let us know!

XOXO!

Hey lovelies,

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about some of our favorite MM romance tropes, and I wanted to talk about a common misconception: not every Daddy kink needs an age gap.

Take my last book, My Responsibility, for example. It leans heavily into the Daddy dynamic, but it doesn’t rely on a difference in age to make that dynamic work. You can absolutely have all the caretaking, authority, and devotion without the years between the characters!

You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

It's currently on pre-order, coming out June 1st!

But... this book not having age gap definitely doesn’t mean I don’t love a good age gap. It is still one of my absolute favorite tropes to read and write.

Speaking of Age Gaps...

If you’ve read Violet’s latest release, The Art of Becoming, you know it didn’t feature a massive age difference, although it had a soft Dom…

You can check it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GFFZMHZX

However, if you’re craving that wide-span, classic age gap romance, you are in for a treat.

Violet’s next book is going to feature a 25-year age gap. Yes, you read that right. Stay tuned, because it’s going to be incredibly cool!

For today's promos we have:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm_turnsuptheheat_mm/7xlytptauv

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmromancekupromo/jqhvibqbkq

We want to hear from you!

Working on these projects got us debating behind the scenes, and we want to know where you stand. For us, a true “age gap” romance has to be at least 10 years apart. Anything less just doesn’t quite hit that specific trope itch!

Hit reply and let us know:

• What is your absolute sweet spot when it comes to age gaps?

• How many years apart do characters need to be for you to consider it a true “age gap”?

• Do you have a preference on how the characters handle the age difference?

• Do you even like age gap? Hate it?

I can’t wait to read your replies and see where everyone stands!

XOXO

Ivory here, taking over the newsletter this week. Violet and I have been chatting a lot about our favorite character dynamics, and we realized we needed to talk to you guys about a trope we both absolutely love: the Daddy kink.

There are so many different ways to write and explore this dynamic, but when you strip it all back, it really comes down to one core feeling. It’s about craving the ultimate protection, care, and safety that a figure like that provides. There is just something incredibly comforting about a character who steps up to take complete care of their partner.

The beauty of this dynamic is its versatility. It can be heavily entwined with BDSM, or it can be completely vanilla. Similarly, while people often expect it to feature an age gap, that’s definitely not a requirement! It’s entirely about the energy, the devotion, and the dynamic between the two characters.

We love it so much that we are both exploring it in our writing right now:

• In my current book, My Responsibility, this dynamic takes center stage, but there is no age gap between the main characters. They just naturally fall into that fiercely protective and cared-for rhythm.

• On the flip side, Violet’s upcoming release is going to dive into the Daddy kink with a delicious age gap!

We are dying to hear your thoughts on this. Do you enjoy the Daddy kink when you’re reading? And when you do read it, do you prefer it with an age gap, or are you a fan of characters who are closer in age?

Hit reply and let us know!

For this week's promotion, we have:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmromancebooksunder499/zsadux5dbb

And if you want to take a look into my upcoming release, My Responsibility, you can do so HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

Liam Marsal arrives at Aspire Academy with a bag of weed in his shoe, a smart mouth, and absolutely no intention of behaving himself.

Ethan Farley has spent three years building a perfect record at the facility's correctional program. Perfect grades, perfect conduct, a carefully planned future. The last thing he needs is a reckless, blue-eyed troublemaker dismantling everything he's worked for.

As Liam's assigned student leader, Ethan is responsible for keeping him in line. The problem is that keeping Liam in line requires getting close to him. And getting close to him is the most dangerous thing Ethan has ever done.
Behind razor wire and locked doors, between punishment and forgiveness, between rules and the people who break them, something neither of them planned for begins to take shape. Something that looks a lot like home.

My Responsibility is a slow-burn MM dark romance set in a fictional residential correctional facility. It contains explicit content, power dynamics, and heavy themes including eating disorders, parental abuse, and institutional confinement, all handled within a story about two people learning to let someone in.

HEA guaranteed.

Tropes: Daddy Kink; Slow Burn; Hurt/Comfort; Found Family; MMA (sports); Bad Boy/Golden Boy; Touch him you die; No third act breakup; Strict Roles

Talk to you guys next week,

XOXO!

Hi lovelies,

First, the goodies, the best books in the genre here:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/may-i-romance-you/7hp6xoalrl

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/steamymmromancebooks/lhguiub34z

Now… for the theme of the week!

Ivory: I was listening to some throwbacks the other day, and Rihanna’s “We Found Love” came on. You know the line, we found love in a hopeless place. It got me thinking about why we are so incredibly drawn to that specific trope in romance.

There is something so beautiful and profoundly human about two people finding a spark of light in the darkest, most unexpected corners of the world. It’s the idea that no matter how rigid, cold, or broken the environment around us might be, human connection can still carve out a space to breathe and thrive. It’s the ultimate rebellion.

I want to hear from you: Have you ever found love, whether it’s romantic, a lifelong friendship, or even just a deep connection with a pet, in an unexpected or seemingly “hopeless” place? Hit reply and tell me your stories. I read every single one, and I’d love to hear how you’ve found light in the dark.

I know I have found love in the most broken places before.

Speaking of finding love in impossible places, I am so thrilled to finally introduce you to Liam and Ethan.

This theme is the beating heart of my brand-new book, My Responsibility. If you love a slow-burn, high-stakes dynamic with a heavy dose of “touch him and die” energy, this one is for you.

Here is what you can expect:

My Responsibility

Liam Marsal arrives at Aspire Academy with a bag of weed in his shoe, a smart mouth, and absolutely no intention of behaving himself.

Ethan Farley has spent three years building a perfect record at the facility’s correctional program — perfect grades, perfect conduct, a carefully planned future. The last thing he needs is a reckless, blue-eyed troublemaker dismantling everything he’s worked for.

As Liam’s assigned student leader, Ethan is responsible for keeping him in line. The problem is that keeping Liam in line requires getting close to him. And getting close to him is the most dangerous thing Ethan has ever done.

Behind razor wire and locked doors, between punishment and forgiveness, between rules and the people who break them, something neither of them planned for begins to take shape. Something that looks a lot like home.

What to expect in this book:

• Genre: Slow-burn MM dark romance set in a fictional residential correctional facility.

• The Vibe: Power dynamics, explicit content, and two people learning to let someone in, imperfectly and stubbornly.

• The Tropes:

  Daddy Kink
  Spankings

  Slow Burn

  Hurt/Comfort

  Found Family

  MMA (sports)

  Bad Boy/Golden Boy

  Touch him you die

  No third act breakup

  Strict Roles

Content Note: This story handles heavy themes including eating disorders, parental abuse, and institutional confinement. Please read with care.

I cannot wait to share Liam and Ethan’s journey with you. They fought me every step of the way, but watching them build a home in the middle of all that chaos has been incredibly rewarding.

I already have a pre-order link, for those interested: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZXW94

It will be officially released JUNE FIRST!

Keep an eye out for more teasers, and don’t forget to reply with your stories!

XOXO,

First and foremost, we have books for you:

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmromancebooksunder499/u8v9r1bk26

GET IT HERE: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mm_romanceunder5_mm/kozjfnpevu

And, now, I want to discuss something with you all.

There’s a part of The Art of Becoming that I, Violet, don’t talk about as much when I’m sharing the book, because it’s kinda harder to put into words. But for me, it’s the heart of the story.

More than a romance, this book is about Arthur learning how to rebuild himself after a relationship that nearly destroyed him. About figuring out who he is outside of that. About learning, slowly, how to feel safe again—in his own body, in his own choices.

Arthur’s relationship with Johannes is part of his healing. But it didn’t start there.

It started the moment Arthur found the courage to leave Marc; to walk away from something that was slowly destroying him, even when leaving felt just as terrifying as staying.

And sometimes, moving on isn’t the hardest part. Sometimes, the hardest part is surviving what comes after. When the person you escaped from comes back—and reminds you just how dangerous they are.

It looks like this:

“He was tired and a little distracted—he hadn’t had anything to drink that night, but drowsiness was beginning to creep in, softening his limbs, slowing his thoughts. His muscles were always sore after a night of dancing at the Elysian. He was just about to slip his phone into his bag and grab his keys to open the gate when everything happened all at once.

A hand grabbed his arm tightly, fingers clamping around his skin like a vice. Another hand followed immediately after, pressing something sharp against his side—Arthur gasped as the cold bite of metal touched his skin, his heart lurching in his chest. Some part of his mind thought it was a mugging—yes, he’d been careless; but this was a residential street, usually empty, always quiet...

And then he heard the familiar voice, far too close to his ear: “Hey, dollface.”

Arthur felt his stomach plummet. He didn’t even dare try to turn his head to look at the man behind him—but the voice was unmistakable. Low, with a syrupy sweetness that barely concealed the danger boiling beneath.

“Marc…”

“Shhh,” Marc hissed, and the knife pressed harder into Arthur’s side, making him flinch. “No drama. No scene. You’re gonna smile, unlock that gate, and take me upstairs. Like we’re coming back from a date. You can do that for me, Baby Blue, can’t you?”

No, a voice inside Arthur screamed—irrational and desperate. His breath quickened sharply, his vision swimming at the edges. He swallowed hard, and Marc’s grip on his arm tightened, like he was waiting—demanding—a response. “C’mon, Baby Blue,” Marc growled, so close now Arthur could feel his breath against the side of his face. “Be smart and do as you’re told. Unless you’d rather get hurt.”

The world was spinning. Every fiber in Arthur’s body screamed at him to run, to fight, to yell, to do something—but the cold blade against his ribs kept his mouth shut and his feet rooted to the pavement. Arthur had seen what Marc was capable of when he lost control—and that had been without a knife.

With trembling hands, Arthur fished his key fob from his pocket, pressing it to the reader to unlock the gate. The building was simple—no concierge, no doorman. No one to see what was happening. No one awake. Marc stayed right on him, steering him toward the entrance and then into the elevator, never letting go, never allowing Arthur to quicken his pace. From a distance, they might have looked like lovers embracing.

The elevator ride felt endless. Arthur kept his eyes locked on the digital display, watching the numbers climb as if each passing floor took a lifetime—and yet not long enough. He didn’t want to reach the apartment. He didn’t want to find out what would happen once they got there. Part of him clung to the hope that someone from the security company might be watching through the cameras—that something in his tense posture beside Marc would catch someone’s attention. That one of the building’s cameras would capture the blade pressed between their bodies, almost invisible in the elevator’s dim light.

But Marc was too close. Too still. His free hand now rested against Arthur’s back with a weight that felt like frozen control. When Arthur dared to move even a fraction, Marc pushed the blade into his side again. “Don’t even try,” he whispered.

Arthur’s breathing grew faster, more erratic—he was dizzy now, really dizzy, and a flicker of fear crossed his mind that he might be on the verge of a panic attack. He’d only had one in his entire life—back when he was still with Marc. The hallway to his apartment was empty—of course it was, at three thirty in the morning—and Arthur walked it like someone drifting through a nightmare, legs heavy and foreign, no longer entirely under his control.

The moment he unlocked the door, Marc shoved him roughly inside—Arthur stumbled, hitting his shoulder against the doorframe, while Marc stepped in and slammed the door shut behind them. The key was snatched from Arthur’s hand, and Marc locked the door firmly.

“Marc…” Arthur tried, hating the tremor in his voice, the way it already sounded close to tears. Marc silenced him with another sharp gesture, pulling the phone from Arthur’s hand and tossing it onto the dining table like it was nothing more than scrap paper. The knife was still firm in his other hand.

“Cute place,” Marc commented, his words dripping with acid as his dark eyes scanned the room. “He’s taking care of you, huh? The guy with the fancy car?” He turned his eyes back on Arthur, and Arthur’s face flushed as if he’d been slapped. “You’re his whore now, is that it? Finally found a rich idiot to pay your bills in exchange for sex?”

Arthur ignored the insult—the sneering tone, the attempt to cut him down. He could barely process anything like that right now. “Marc…” he tried again, forcing his voice to stay even. “Why are you here…? What do you… Listen, you can still just leave. No one has to know you came, I swear. Just…”

Writing scenes with Marc was one of the most challenging parts of this book for me; emotionally, but also creatively. I had to step a little outside my comfort zone, explore a kind of tension I don’t usually write… and at the same time, it was strangely thrilling to bring that darker layer of the story to life.

You can read more here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Becoming-Violet-Sallow-ebook/dp/B0GFFZMHZX

What do you think about MM romances that explore heavier, more difficult themes? Do you enjoy stories that go beyond the romance and dive into those darker places, or do you prefer something lighter?

See you next week!

XOXO

First up, thank you for your patience with us last week! We were traveling and couldn’t quite manage to get the newsletter out in time. To make up for it, we bring two fresh book lists for you to explore:

GET IT HERE!

GET IT HERE!

Last week, a TikTok post got us talking about something very specific: pet names in romance books. What do you think about them?

(BTW, this is the TikTok account @theunintelligiblereader, and you should definitely check her out, it's amazing! - you can click HERE if you prefer)

Ivory and I are absolute suckers for pet names. I (Violet) am currently reading Ivory’s next book (stay tuned!), and I genuinely started internally screaming the first time the couple used one.

The post we saw was actually about pet names people don’t like—but honestly, neither of us really hates any of them. For us, it always depends on the dynamic between the characters. In fact, pet names can say a lot about a relationship.

In The Art of Becoming, Johannes clearly loves them. “Angel” is his favorite for Arthur—I got curious and actually counted: over the course of the book, he uses “angel” 186 times (in my defense, it’s a long book). He also uses “sweetheart” (41 times), “baby” (30 times), and “princess” (25 times). Now, I know “princess” can be a bit controversial—I’ve had readers tell me they didn’t love it for a male character, and others who absolutely adored it.

As I'm a huge nerd, I made a graph:

You can check The Art of Becoming HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GFFZMHZX

So what’s your take? Pet names—yes or no? Do you have favorites? Any you can’t stand?

Enjoy—and let us know if any of them catch your eye! See you next week!

XOXO,

Ivory: What's everybody's favorite season? I can't say mine is spring. I'm more of a winter person. My heart is cold. (Pfft! As if!)

Violet: Mine is definitely summer. I'm the type of person who does a little dance when I see the sun.

What about you all?

Here, the ice is finally thawing, and I’m not just talking about the hearts of our favorite emotionally unavailable heroes! Spring is officially in the air, bringing all the fresh blooms and warm weather with it.

Whether you’re dealing with a sudden case of “oh no, we only brought one picnic blanket” or just enjoying the sunshine, it’s the perfect time to shed those heavy winter coats and dive into a fresh new read.

Speaking of fresh beginnings, if you’re looking for the perfect seasonal match, The Art of Becoming actually starts right at the dawn of spring! Just as the world is waking up and the flowers are making their appearance, our boy Arthur is embarking on his own messy, beautiful journey of growth. It’s the ultimate read to match the season of new life and blossoming romance.

You can get it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GFFZMHZX

To celebrate the season where we finally get some sunshine for our grumps, I’ve put together a special spring-themed book promo just for you!

You can get it here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/spicy-mm-spring/iezwupv196

It’s time to get to the bottom of your TBR pile and push some fresh new romances to the top. (I couldn’t resist a little seasonal genre pun! Hehe)

Grab your iced coffees, find a sunny spot to read, and let me know what you’re currently obsessed with. Here is to a season full of endless sunshine, blooming love, and happily-ever-afters.

Happy reading,

XOXO

Today's theme is about our writing processes.

I often catch myself thinking that being a writer is actually much more about being an editor

Violet:

The first draft of my books is always a bit of a mess. Writing a full outline beforehand is usually pointless for me, because I make so many decisions about the story as I go—if I do create an outline, it’s already about 80% outdated by the time I reach the third chapter. Even when I start with a somewhat solid idea, I end up developing entirely new arcs after I begin writing, adding characters who seem to pop into my head one day asking to be part of the story, coming up with new scenes and cutting others. And I rarely go back to fix anything—if I change my mind about a scene, I just leave myself a note and adjust it in the first revision.

I feel like it’s in the first revision that the story truly takes shape: now, with everything on the page, I know where I want to go and how I want to get there. I reread everything and rewrite a lot. I delete entire sections. I move others around. I tweak details and information based on things that happen later in the story. When I’m done, I finally feel like I have my story.

Then I move on to the second revision, this time focusing on the writing itself. Swapping out words. Refining sentences. Looking for synonyms. Avoiding repetition. Making the text “prettier” (at least to my personal taste). When I finish, it feels like I have an “almost-final” version.

(At some point before or after the second revision, I also send my books to friends/beta readers and make adjustments based on their feedback—but that step can happen at different times, so I wasn’t sure where to place it.)

Then I print it out—to read my book “with a reader’s eyes,” curled up in bed before going to sleep. And even then… that’s how my printed “almost-final” version ends up. Covered in so many notes and annotations that it requires yet another (long) revision, page by page, paragraph by paragraph.

Ivory:

Things are different for me. I always need an outline; it’s the first thing I do. Without one, I might as well not even start. Sometimes, I will explore an idea from scratch, but after a few chapters (two or three), I will have to stop and outline the rest. It doesn’t mean I will follow it. I often have to change the outline as I go, but I need it there.

When I finish the first draft, it’s time to add or cut scenes for the second draft. Then, the third draft is all about line editing: proofreading, grammar, continuity, pacing, and character voices. I give it one week to simmer and rest. And then, I reread it to see if everything makes sense. I often listen to it, too, and change the view from bright mode to dark mode so I can see it with “fresh eyes.” Now, it goes to beta readers and editors (this is also the time I start commissioning artists for the cover).

Writing is a tough job, but it’s also my hyperfocus. I can’t live without writing: I think about it all day, every day.

Now we want to know: How is it for you? Do we have any authors here? What is your unique process?

For this week’s promos, we have two steamy book lists for you:

Steamy MM Romance Books: https://books.bookfunnel.com/steamymmromancebooks/5ppn2ht0nl

https://books.bookfunnel.com/steamylgbtreads/c9runi1qc6

As always, we'll see each other next week.

Xoxo

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know how much we value a story that gets the “little things” right. This week, I want to talk about Seeking His Command: An MM Romance of Second Chances by A.E. LeMercier. I read it and I’m still thinking about it.

Usually, BDSM is shown as “instant obsession”, stalkers, psychopaths and in the most unhealthy ways possible. Sometimes this is fun, sometimes it crosses the line. The market is full of books where boundaries are blurred and consent is not something they care about. None of this is true here, though. This book was a breath of fresh air. It felt incredibly realistic and healthy, yet still intriguing and a page-turner. The author clearly knows what they’re doing and what they’re talking about.

The story follows Miles, a man with a troubled past who seeks release through Darren, a professional Dom at a club. What follows is a deeply emotional journey centered around BDSM, but especially Shibari.

The thing that I loved the most was that the author deeply understands the BDSM scene. The dynamics are refreshing because there is nothing toxic happening. Consent comes first, as it should, and everything is discussed thoroughly before a scene ever begins. If you’ve ever wanted to see how a professional BDSM dynamic actually works, this is the book for you.

Also, I personally don’t love unnecessary angst. In this story, the conflict is internal to Miles. He communicates his struggles clearly to Darren, and they work through those emotions together within their scenes. It’s deeply emotional. The dynamic with the secondary characters is also very cool, and I have to say the scenes are really steamy at times too, wink

I’m so ready to see them officially become a couple and dive deeper into the mysteries of Miles’ past. The best part is that this book is the first in a series, and I’m thrilled to share that we have Book 2 to 4 out, 5 coming, and, for the first time, now there is an audiobook as well!

You can get book one HERE;

And the audiobook HERE;

I’m already looking forward to diving into the next book. Have you read any BDSM romances lately that actually felt real?

For this week’s promo, we’re celebrating (late) St. Patrick’s Day.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/greencovers2026/u67wttscj7

The luck of the Irish and all the Green romance covers!

As always, see you next week,

XOXO