Just in time for that August getaway vacation (or reading at home staycations are nice too): We’re giving away free e-books!
We are giving away two copies of each of our new July releases. Winners get one e-book of their choice from the options below. Looking for some brand new lesbian fiction with strong female characters to rock your world? We’ve got plotlines to make you laugh, tug at your heart, turn you on, and keep you on the edge of your seat.
TO ENTER: To participate in the giveaway, leave a comment below telling us your female book character crushes! (please also tell us which ebook you would like to win).Or you can enter by sending an e-mail to info@ylva-publishing.com.
The deadline for the giveaway is Friday at 11.59 p.m. EST, which means 6 a.m. on Saturday in Germany. We’ll contact the winners directly.
As an example of a book character crush, my first was Celie from The Color Purple by Alice Walker, but my more recent one has got to be Rue from True Nature by Jae.
Check out your e-book choices below:
Deliberate Harm, by J.R. Wolfe
One part lesbian romance, two parts page-turning political thriller, this book has terrorist organizations, doublecrossing secret agents, and a badass female character at the helm. Ex-soldier Portia Marks scours the world for her kidnapped fiancée Imma, then discovers that the very same terrorist group who took Imma is gearing up to detonate the world’s first “dirty bomb”. Can she save Imma and stop the bomb in time?
A Story of Now, by Emily O’Beirne
An uplifting new adult story set in Australia that brings you to laughter, to tears, and then back again. Already garnering a 4.3 rating on Goodreads, A Story of Now follows the tale of Claire, a nineteen-year-old girl learning to live life not for her demanding parents, not for her friends, but for herself. When strangers Robbie and Mia walk into her life, a new unlikely friendship develops and, with Mia, maybe more.
Don’t Be Shy (Volume 2)
edited by Jae and Astrid Ohletz.
Erotica with a smart, sexy twist. One-night stands, naughty getaway weekends full of exploration. Toys, teasing, and titillating fun that doesn’t just promise, but delivers.
This one gets all the peppers, and with good reason.
Heart’s Surrender, by Emma Weimann
This was actually published last summer, but we couldn’t resist offering it up, because just a week ago it won a “Goldie” at the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) award ceremony in New Orleans! Find out for yourself why this tender, sensual romance about two women trying to have a no-strings affair won the Goldie in GCLS’ Erotica category this year.
Good luck!
Astrid Ohletz
I would like to win A STORY OF NOW. I love all your books. Devoted Fan
Ah, but who is your female book character crush? Inquiring minds want to know! Write back and tell us! And thanks for stopping by. 🙂
-Michelle, your blogmistress
First crush was probably Nancy Drew. Now, I’d say a toss up between Stephanie Plum and Kate Cane (Batwoman).
And if we get to choose I’m game Deliberate Harm or Don’t Be Shy Vol 2. 🙂
Oh, good choices, Samantha Luce! I was thinking as I posted this that my first was probably Nancy Drew as well, or possibly Jo March from Little Women.
Okay, we’ve got your entry. Thanks for stopping by!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first crush was Lessa in Anne McCaffrey’s “Dragonflight: Dragonriders of Pern”
Lessa is a strong young woman fighting to save her family’s home. When she did so, she was taking away to “impresses” Ramoth, her beloved golden dragon.
I fell in love with Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series 30 years ago. When I was a young girl, there wasn’t strong roles for women, instead of the usual plots in which women are only rescued by the male hero. McCaffrey brings out real a believable heroine in Lessa. McCaffrey makes you want to live on Pern. Go on a flight of fancy with graceful golden dragon wings and leave the world behind.
Aw, I read those Pern books when I was a kid too! Now you’ve made me all nostalgic.
Thanks for such a thoughtful answer, and for stopping by. You’re now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Fictional character crushes? Maddie in Ann McMan’s ‘Jericho’ hands down and Lisbeth Salander in the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, among others. So many to choose from….
It’s true! So many to choose from! It’s hard, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by. You’re now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
First crush was Jo from Little Women.
AH, JO…She made me want to be a writer. I mentioned her in my comment above as one of my first crushes too.
Thanks for stopping by. You’re now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
There are so many to choose from! When I discovered speculative fiction, I found so many women protagonists to fall in love with. I think Paksenarrion from Elizabeth Moon’s trilogy is one of my earliest crushes. Oh, and Molly Bolt from Rubyfruit Jungle. If I am lucky enough to win, Deliberate harm is my first choice.
You know, one of these days I am going to have get around to reading Rubyfruit Jungle….
Thanks for stopping by, and for letting us know which book you want. You’re now officially entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Luke from Backwards to Oregon is my long standing book crush. More recently Tal from Fletcher DeLancey’s series.
Aw, you picked both Ylva characters! We’re glad to hear it! I have so many of our books on my reading list, and both of these are on it. I’m actually slowly working my way through Fletcher’s The Caphenon at the moment. Luke from Backwards to Oregon totally sounds like a character right up my alley, and it’s a crime I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
So many great choices, current top 3:
Lucy Farinelli of the Scarpetta series is certainly up there in the top few.
Brooklyn Campbell from Kiss the Girl
Honor Blake from Fated Love
Hey, Marcy, I’ll have to check these out at some point.
Thanks for stopping by and you are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first crush was Darrell Rivers from Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers series. She was sporty yet academic too. I wanted to go to that boarding school really bad. More recent crush is Alden McKenna from Sex & Skateboards by Ashley Bartlett. If I am chosen I would like Deliberate Harm please.
One of the great things about answering these comments is that I get to learn about all sort of interesting-sounding books I didn’t know about!
Thanks for stopping by and telling us about your book crushes. You are now entered.
Not really a crush but kind of my role model as child was George from the Famous Five.
Oh…and I don’t want to enter… just put my two cents in 🙂
Well, thanks for putting your .02 in anyway.
I don’t really know the Famous Five, other than from British comedians talking about it, but I have heard of Georgina, actually (George). Neat choice!
Thanks for stopping by.
-Michelle, your blogmistress
First one I can recall is a character named Julia Kent. The way she was written put in mind of Victoria Principle (of the tv show Dallas). She was introduced in the fifth or sixth book of the John Jakes’ “The Amercian Bicentennial Series” which eventually became the “Kent Family Chronicles” an eight volume series that covered a family from pre-revolutionary America through the 1890’s
The character starts out as a high society trophy wife however she evolved over time.
I would be interested in winning Deliberate Harm
🙂
I remember those John Jakes books from the old days! Haven’t read them myself, but I remember my best friend in junior high being totally addicted to them.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crush. You are now entered. Good luck!
– Michelle, your blogmistress
Talia from Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valmar series. Self-sufficient, strong, smart!
Oh, Lackey definitely can write some awesome female characters.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
For me it has to be Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series. Such a seriously strong kickass female with brains and beauty. Cannot get enough of her character.
Oh, interesting! I’ll have to check that out.
Thanks for stopping by. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
1st one is probably George from the Nancy Drew series. More recently I’d have to go with Cassidy James from the also mystery series about her. Hmm… I’m seeing a pattern here… women who solve mysteries. 🙂
Yes! I also picked Nancy Drew! Good choice!
Thanks for stopping by. You are now entered.
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first literary crush was Jo in Little Women. Seems like a lot of us liked her. I also liked Honor Harrington from the David Weber series. Tough woman!
If we are choosing a book, I would prefer Deliberate Harm. Thank you.
Yes, I agree, Jo March was one of my faves. And thanks for telling us which book you want.
We appreciate you stopping by. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Oh, wow. My first literary crush? Probably Jo from Little Women. Now, there are so many. I’ll pick from the first lesbian book I read. Robin from And Playing The Role of Herself.
Wow, I never knew so many people shared my Jo crush!
Thanks for stopping by. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first literary crush, or rather: role model was Pippi Longstocking. I wanted to be her so badly, horse and house and monkey and all. Secondly, The Little Witch (Otfried Preussler) because she can ride a broomstick and has a raven. But my first proper girlfriend was Kerowyn of By The Sword. Mercenary-turned-weaponsmaster, and massive BAMF.
Pippi Longstocking is a great one too! I forgot about her. And again, Mercedes Lackey wrote some strong, awesome women.
Thanks for stopping by. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
PS: I meant to say girlcrush, not girlfriend. Am typing this on my mobile. Autocorrect got me, again.
I can’t remember my first literary crush but I certainly had a major crush on Micky Knight from JM Redmann’s series
Cool, don’t know that series; I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for stopping by and leaving us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
First crush.
Honor Harrington from David Webers series.
I love free books☺️
Oh, this one’s coming up often! Thanks for stopping by and telling us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
So many strong women to choose from but Reese Conlon is a good place to start.
As for a free eBook..Deliberate Harm please pretty please!
A good place, indeed. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for telling us which book you want. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Female book character crush would have to be Clancy O’Connor from Arbor Vitae by author Susan X. Meagher.
Free ebook choice would be Heart’s Surrender. Thank you Ylva Publishing.
Nice! I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for stopping by and telling us about your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
In mainstream books I loved strong female characters like Vicki Nelson & Vree by Tanya Huff, Jennifer Roberson’s Del, David Weber’s Honor Harrington, Tara K. Harper’s Dion, etc. Hard to pick just one.
From lesbian fiction one of the first was probably Radclyffe’s Reese Conlon.
Yes, it’s definitely hard to choose! Reese Conlon and Honor Harrington keep coming up, perhaps unsurprisingly. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and letting us know your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
I think I end up crushing out on most main characters in the novels I read!! However, overall favourite crush would have to be Dr Jess McKenna in LA Metro by RJ Nolan 🙂
Well, that’s a good thing! And yay for LA Metro! Glad you liked it.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Luke from Backwards to Oregon, and Tori Hunter in Hunter’s Way. I would like to win Deliberate Harm if I am lucky . Thank you
I totally have to read Backwards to Oregon. It’s just officially moved up to the next spot on my reading list.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Mine was Cam from the Honor Series by Radclyffe…but since then I could name so many more 😉
Nice choice! It’s true, it’s so hard to pin down just one.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first creates were probably Kate Delafield from Katherine V Forrest’s books (nice long series) and Madison McGuire from Amanda Kyle Williams books. Those were back in the 80′ and 90’s. Today it would be Kylie Mackensie from Susam X. Magher’s All That Matters and Griffin Westmore from Jae’s Second Nature. There are lots more, but that should do for when I started reading lesfic back in the Naiad days to today with all our options!
80s and 90s are okay! 🙂
And thanks for the Second Nature shoutout. Glad you liked it.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your literary crush. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
My first non lesbian themed crush was Darrell from Mallory Towers, but my first lesbian themed crush was Addison Miller from “The Dyke and the Debutante” by Alex Tryst. The book I would like is A Story of Now.
I’ll have to check these two out, but I’m intrigued. I’m getting a good reading list from this post.
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crush! And thanks for telling us which book you want. You are now entered!
-Michelle, your blogmistress
Hard to pick one – love Cam from the Honor series by Radclyffe, Beau from Trauma Alert also by Radclyffe, Aiden from Conflict of Interest and Next of Kin by Jae but my fave has to be Micky Knight by JM Redmann… just such a well drawn and vulnerable character – not sure if I want to love her or adopt her!!
Deliberate Harm please…
Nice crushes! Thanks for sharing them with us! And thanks for stopping by. You’re officially entered!
Well my first female crush was Kathryn Janeway. I know she is from a TV series but they do have books as well. There are so many to choose from that it is hard to name them all. Honor Harrington from David Weber’s series. I also love Rae and Amereena from Gun Brooke’s Supreme Constellation Series. Rue was wonderful! Radclyffe’s characters Cameron Roberts and Reese Conlon are some of my faves. I love strong female characters!
It’s hard to complain about Captain Janeway as a choice; she certainly fits the bill for strong female characters. If you like strong female sci-characters, you might try out Fletcher Delancy’s The Caphenon
There are great-sounding character crushes! Honor Harrington and Reese Conlon keep coming up in comments, so you’re not alone in your choices. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crushes! You are now officially entered!
Well obviously my whole long post that I wrote up yesterday got lost somewhere! Grr!
So, I’m going to try to recreate it but I’m sure I’ll miss some. Ok, Cam from the Honor series and Jessie from Innocent Hearts by Rad, Cathelin from Nene Adams Sunne in Gold, Rhiannon from LJ Baker’s Lady Knight, Sarah from Ronica Black’s Wild Abandon, Griffin from True Nature, Whit from Jean Stewart’s Isis series, Tyger from Jennifer DiMarco’s Wind series and my two favs…Charlie from TNovan and Taylor Rickard’s Words Heard in Silence and Callan from Life’s Little Edge!!!
If I win, I’d like either Hearts Surrender or Don’t Be Shy! Thanks for the chance.
So many choices! They all sound great, and I’ll have to check some of these out.
Thanks for sharing them all with us, and thanks for stopping by! You are now entered!
-your blogmistress, Michelle
Yes, I can definitely recommend all of these books! The last two are some of my very favorites but I reread all of them regularly!
One that comes to mind is Megan from Daughters of the Coral Dawn. Kylie from All That Matters wasn’t too shabby. My old heart fluttered for Kal, from The Caphenon.
Excellent! Thanks for stopping by and telling us your character crushes. You are now entered!
I admire Maara from “When Women Were Warriors”, Marghe from Ammonite, Luke from Jae’s stories, and Cody from “Almost Heaven”. Strong women with integrity who become heroic when faced with adversity. And I love reading erotica!