Summer Reading & Reels ☀️📚🎞️

Hi, everyone!

I just wanted to pop in and say thank you to everyone who downloaded my Cedar Hill Duet while it was free. I hope you’re enjoying Rick and Devyn’s and Beau and Talia’s stories as much as I enjoyed writing them!

I’ve also been experimenting with Instagram Reels lately, and I’ve been having a lot of fun! If you’d like to see book snippets, behind-the-scenes posts, and updates about my books, I’d love it if you visited me there! You can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vaniamargenerheault/.

Promotional graphic for the complete King's Crossing series by V.M. Rheault. Against a black background, six book covers are displayed across the top in order: Cruel Fate, Cruel Hearts, Cruel Dreams, Shattered Fate, Shattered Hearts, and Shattered Dreams. The first three covers feature a man in a blue suit, while the final three feature the same man in a gray jacket. Large glowing white script across the center reads "King's Crossing," with "Books 1–6" below in elegant serif lettering. The overall design has a sleek, dark, romantic suspense aesthetic.

And if you’ve been thinking about diving into my King’s Crossing serial, now is a great time! For a limited time the first three books are on sale:

♥️ Book One: $0.99
♥️ Book Two: $1.99
♥️ Book Three: $2.99

You can find them all on Amazon on Kindle, in Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX7SFGB5

If you’d like to read the blurbs or take a look at the content warnings for the serial, you can find all that information here: https://vmrheault.com/kings-crossing-series/

I hope you all are having a great summer so far! The weather here has been hot and sunny and I’ve been enjoying it very much!

Have a great week everyone! Chat with you soon.

Vania

My Cedar Hill Duet is FREE for a limited time!

Promotional graphic for the Cedar Hill duet by V.M. Rheault. Against a smoky gray background with delicate floral line art, the covers of Captivated by Her and Addicted to Her are displayed at an angle. White text reads, "FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!" and "JULY 24–28," indicating both romantic suspense novels are free during the promotional period.

Hi everyone! I hope you are having an amazing summer so far! ☀️

I wanted to celebrate my Cedar Hill duet’s beautiful new look, but I also wanted to say ✨thank you!✨

Your support over the years has meant more than you know, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by making both books FREE through July 28!

Whether you’ve been meaning to read the duet, recommend them to a friend, or if you just want the new covers, now is the perfect time to visit Cedar Hill!

If you enjoy:

  • ❤️ Romantic suspense
  • 🛟 Protective heroes
  • 🔍 Twists and mystery
  • 💕 Emotional happily-ever-afters

…I hope you’ll give Rick and Devyn and Beau and Talia a try.

📚 Download both books free through July 28!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1PV65WD

Talk to you soon!

Vania

Books I’m Excited About Right Now (And a Short Author Update)

I always enjoy hearing about new books, so I thought I’d share a few that have caught my eye lately. Whether you’re planning a beach day, relaxing on the patio, or hiding indoors with the air conditioning running, here are a few new releases and upcoming books from authors I’ve enjoyed and am excited to support.


Melody Loomis has been working hard on her Storm Series novels, and she just released her fifth one! If you love contemporary romance featuring natural disasters, this series is for you!

Promotional graphic for Melody Loomis's Storm Series. Features covers for books one through five, including Thrill of the Chase, When the Ice Melts, Lightning Strikes, Into the Storm, and Heat Wave. The design includes scrapbook-style hearts and arrows on a light parchment background, with text reading "Storm Series, Books 1–5, Now Available."
Promotional graphic for Heat Wave by Melody Loomis. The book cover appears beside the text: "A family feud. A brutal heat wave. One attraction neither of them can ignore." The design features a warm parchment background with heart accents and highlights the novel's romantic and small-town themes.

When temperatures rise, tensions flare…

Never trust a Ford—that’s what Dallas Jones was raised to believe. For decades, the Jones and Ford families have been sworn enemies, and Dallas has no intention of letting his guard down. The family ranch, their legacy, everything they’ve worked for—it’s up to him and his brother to protect it. The last thing he expects is Kenneth Ford’s daughter at his door…and the attraction to her catching him completely off guard.

Alison Ford has always had a crush on Dallas, even if she knew it could never happen. Their families’ feud complicates everything, and Dallas has never even noticed her. But when her job as an HVAC tech sends her to his ranch during a brutal heat wave, Alison finally gets to know the man she’s admired for years. The spark between them is impossible to ignore.

Dallas knows his family would never approve of him getting close to Alison. Still, she doesn’t feel like the enemy he was raised to expect. But when the Fords sabotage a business deal, suspicion gnaws at him. Dallas can’t help wondering if Alison might have had a hand in it. Already in too deep, the thought of Alison betraying him hurts worse than he imagined.

As the land grows dangerously dry, fire threatens the ranch, and mistrust threatens his heart. Dallas must decide what matters more—holding onto old grudges, or risking it all for the woman who might finally make him believe that not all Fords are the enemy.

Melody’s books are available on Amazon and other retailers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDQHHF24

I’m excited to read Heat Wave, but I think I’ll wait until it cools off a little bit. Here in Minnesota, we’ve been going through our own heat wave, with temperatures in the nineties every single day for the past week. But it’s definitely at the top of my TBR!


Another book I’m excited about is my friend Jennie’s paranormal romance! She’s been teasing us with blurbs and snippets all summer. August 25th can’t come soon enough!

Promotional graphic for Smoke and Ivy by Jennie Ritz. The book cover is displayed against a dark brown background with ivy accents and text reading "Pre-Order Now" and "Available August 25, 2026." The design conveys a dark, atmospheric paranormal romance tone.
Promotional graphic for Smoke and Ivy by Jennie Ritz featuring the book cover and the text: "A childhood friendship. A haunted mountain cabin. A secret that could destroy everything." The dark, ivy-themed design highlights the novel's paranormal romance and mystery elements.

She aches to belong somewhere, and he’s determined to forget his past. Stuck in a cabin whose dark end is approaching, they’re both in denial, and one of them has secrets. Smokies magic could save them. If only he would allow it.

When heartbroken Faye Livingstone escapes to the Smokies, she hopes to reignite her long-lost creativity and the magic she hasn’t felt in years, but she isn’t prepared for the deficit of it in her beloved cabin or for sparks to fly when reuniting with the boy she once called her hero, now the cold company exec who owns Smoking Bear Lodge, and the man against preserving it.

In denial that magic ever existed here, Ty Woodlock is trapped, and he’s determined to remain hardened, even while his childhood friend thaws his heart. As they share their souls and their art, he finds himself letting go of lifelong bitterness, but it’s only a matter of time before she learns about his company’s deal to demolish the only place either of them ever called home.

Time is running out as darkness spreads, stealing what magic remains, and when unveiling family secrets, they discover that an ancient treaty must be honored, or they’ll lose more than just the haunted cabin. With death at their doorstep, will they be able to listen to their hearts once and for all and save the mountainside?

Jennie’s book is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be live August 25th, 2026:
https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Ivy-Jennie-Ritz-ebook/dp/B0H5TBVD8N


The last book I’m thrilled to feature is a “sweet” contemporary romance by DM Simmons! 🧁 I’ve had my eye on this book for a long time and I can’t wait to read it! It will be the perfect novel to dive into after all my beach reads!

Promotional graphic for Sweeten the Deal by D.M. Simmons. The book cover appears in a white frame against a pink brick background with text reading "Pre-Order Now" and "Coming September 9th, 2026." The design reflects the novel's sweet bakery romance theme.
Promotional graphic for Sweeten the Deal by D.M. Simmons featuring the book cover and the text: "A career-threatening scandal. A small-town bakery. Stirs up a second chance neither of them saw coming." The pink bakery-inspired design highlights the novel's fake-dating and second-chance romance themes.

Tess never expected Brady Hawk to walk back into her life.

Once Thornbrook’s golden boy—and her best friend—Brady is now an NFL star sidelined by a shoulder injury and fighting career-threatening rumors. When the media frenzy spins out of control, his agent has the perfect solution: a fake relationship to change the narrative.

Brady needs someone he can trust. The only problem? The only person he wants is the one whose heart he broke. For Tess, agreeing to play the part should be easy. Let Brady hang out at her bakery and flash a few convincing smiles. Then he can go back to his life and Tess, hers.

But when old memories that refuse to stay buried, and a chemistry that never truly disappeared, pretending becomes harder than either of them expected. As the lines between fake and real begin to blur, Tess and Brady discover the greatest risk isn’t the cameras, the rumors, or the headlines—it’s losing each other for a second time.

Sweeten the Deal is available for preorder and will be live September 9th, 2026. You can find it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Sweeten-Deal-D-M-Simmons-ebook/dp/B0H92G15KL


I hope something here piques your interest! I know I’m looking forward to reading them!

As for me and what I’ve been doing . . .  I’ve been busy writing Cold Mercy, the second book in my hockey duet. These characters have so much to say, the book is practically writing itself, which is lovely! Other than that, we’ve been having fabulous weather for Minnesota. Hot and sunny, it’s just what I need before the freezing winter sets in.

In bookish news, I’ve set up my free days for my Cedar Hill Duet (Captivated by Her and Addicted to Her) and I’ll be announcing that soon in a separate post. They’ll be free on Kindle and as always, they’re available in Kindle Unlimited and Paperback. I recently redid the covers, and I’m really happy with how they turned out! Set a reminder to check back next week!

Next month, Rescue Me will be included in a huge book blast, but I’ll remind you as the date comes nearer. We have a little while yet, but I’m excited to give Sam and Lily some love! So get ready to stuff your ereaders! You’ll have lots to choose from to get you to the end of the year! 📚 ♥️

That’s all from me today. I hope you’re having a relaxing and sunny weekend! ☀️🌸

Talk soon!

Vania

PS: None of the links posted here are affiliate links and the graphics were made without the use of AI. Thanks!

A Summer Writing Update ☀️ 🖊️

A happy couple embraces beneath bright fireworks bursting across a sunset sky. Decorative teal lettering reads "Happy July!" over a city skyline backdrop.

Happy July!

I can’t believe we’re already heading into the Fourth of July weekend. 🎉 🎆 ☀️ Summer always seems to go by faster than I want, even when I’m trying to slow down and enjoy it.

As for what I’ve been working on, I’ve spent most of May and all of June working on Frozen Assets, my hockey romance featuring Beckett and Sloane. I’m happy to say that the ending is in sight! If everything works out, I’ll be writing THE END sometime this week. 🎉

I’ve really enjoyed spending time in their hockey world, and all the research I’ve done for the past year has paid off. Beckett and Sloane have been living in my head since last summer, and now that Frozen Assets is almost finished, I’m already looking ahead to Cold Mercy, which is about Celina, who is Sloane’s sister, and Trevor, who is Beckett’s good friend. Those two have made it very clear they aren’t going to wait long for their turn.

I almost forgot to mention that earlier I teased giving away Captivated by Her and Addicted to Her to celebrate their new covers and the glow up I gave them on the inside. I still want to do that, so check back here for an announcement after the holiday!

Promotional graphic featuring two romance book covers from the Cedar Hill series by V.M. Rheault. On the left, Captivated by Her shows a dark-haired man in a white shirt standing in front of a lighthouse under stormy skies. On the right, Addicted to Her shows a blond man in a suit jacket against a city skyline at sunset. White text on a dark gray floral background reads "FREE DAYS" beside the first book and "COMING SOON!" beside the second.

Besides that, summer has been filled with the usual mix of work, family, errands, and trying to enjoy the nice weather whenever Minnesota decides to cooperate.

I hope you’re having a wonderful summer so far. If you’re celebrating this week, have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Until next time,

Vania

Wicked Games ARC Copies Have Been Claimed! ♥️

handsome man with scruff looking a the camera leaning on a railing. the text says. all arcs have been claimed!  thank you!  graphic is in black and white.

It is so lovely to say that all ARC copies for Wicked Games have now been claimed, and I wanted to say thank you for the incredible support and excitement for this release! ♥️☺️

Every time I put out a new book, there’s a crazy mix of nerves and anticipation, so seeing readers eager to dive into Seth and Avery’s story means so much to me.

If you missed the ARC, Wicked Games releases May 15th on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback.

Thank you for cheering me on—I can’t wait to hear what you think!

As for what I’m going to do now . . . I’m going to take a couple weeks off to relax, do some spring cleaning around my apartment, do some admin work that has crept up on me, and get my notes together for my next two books. Last summer–time goes by so fast–I teased a hockey book, which has turned into a duet, and I am so excited to start working on them!

So things may feel quiet around here, but I’ll be busy! Bookmark this blog or sign up for updates to hear about my dark and gritty hockey duet that will be coming 2027!

As always, My Biggest Mistake is still free. You can down load it here: https://BookHip.com/CMSVSNK

handsome man wearing black suit gold watch on his wrist.  text reads:
I kneel in front of her and clasp her cold, quaking hands in mine. “You don’t have to stay. Or you can stay, and we’ll sleep. When I looked for you, that was some scary shit, Allegra. I didn’t know where you were, and when I found you, I almost lost it. I asked you to come here because I couldn’t let you go to your cabin alone, but that doesn’t mean we have to do anything in mine.”

      “How did you find me?”

      I pause and decide to tell her the truth. “I followed my heart.”

My Biggest Mistake by VM Rheault

Thank you all and I hope you’re having a wonderful spring so far! 🌸🌺🐇

Hello Spring! What I’ve been working on.

Hello, hello! 🌸

It’s the first day of spring, and here in my part of Minnesota, it actually feels like it. We don’t have much snow left, and everything looks a little… dull right now. Brown grass, all the garbage the snow was hiding suddenly in plain sight, mud everywhere—it’s kind of a gloomy vibe, especially on cloudy days.

But the weather is warming up, the sun will dry everything out, and pretty soon the trees will start getting their leaves again.

I like fall best, but there’s something about a new season that feels like a fresh start. You just never know what life has in store.

I should be getting my final proof of WICKED GAMES today! 👀 I made a few small tweaks to the formatting (including a blog post and an interview!) and adjusted the cover just a bit. Once everything looks good, I’ll be ordering paperback ARC copies. 📚

I’m really excited about that since it’s something I’ve never done before. I’ll still offer ebooks like I usually do, but sending out a few paperback ARCs feels like something special. I’m so proud of how this book turned out, and I can’t wait for you all to see it.

While I’ve been waiting, I’ve been re-editing my Cedar Hill Duet. I love those characters so much, and they deserve this glow-up. New edits, new covers… yep. They deserve it.

And of course, I have a new story rattling around in my brain. Beckett and Sloane won’t leave me alone—in the best way possible. I teased their story a while back (like… last year 😅), so it’ll be nice to finally “skate” into the world of hockey. 🏒

Have a great first day of spring, and keep an eye out for WICKED GAMES ARCs soon! ♥️

Wicked Games Cover and Blurb Reveal!

I love being an author! ♥️ 📚 I love when all the pieces of a book fit together just right.

When I first saw this cover, I knew deep in my bones that it was a perfect match to Seth and Avery’s story.

Set in a small Minnesota town near a lake, the background captures the moody setting where this story takes place.

Needless to say, I love it, and I hope you do too!

black background with grey weeds/lake/fog.  picture Wicked Games' cover. text reads Cover Reveal! May 15th 2026

Seth
On a cold February afternoon, I lost my son at a ransom exchange gone wrong.
My wife left me a week later.
Every morning I wake up alone in a house filled with nothing but their memories, and most days I can barely get out of bed.
I need to get out of the city, and I go to a small Minnesota town to grieve and come to terms with my little boy’s death and the loss of my marriage.
There I meet Avery McKay, who’s in Lakehaven Falls for reasons of her own.
I’m not ready to fall in love, but I do anyway. In just a few short days, she becomes my lifeline—someone who understands my grief in a way that no one else ever could.
As we spend time together, Avery and I discover that my son’s kidnapping and her sister’s death are connected, and we realize the danger isn’t over. When I’m warned to stay away from her if I want to keep her alive, I do the only thing I can.
I walk away from the woman I love.

Avery
In a dark alley covered in snow and trash, my sister was murdered, and the police think it was a violent act of revenge.
Two months later, my husband left me for another woman.
I came to Lakehaven Falls to grieve and to figure out who I am now that I’m alone. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with a man who was as damaged as I am.
When the detective handling my sister’s case asks me to write a goodbye post on her gossip blog to draw out her killer, I stumble across a devastating secret that connects her to Seth’s family. The longer Seth and I look for answers, the more dangerous the truth becomes.
Someone will do anything to hide what they’ve done.
Loving Seth could cost me my life—but the last thing I’m going to do is let him walk away with my heart.


Wicked Games is a standalone billionaire romantic suspense with an HEA. It will be available on Kindle, in Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback May 15th, 2026.

ARCs to come!

Check here later for further details.

I hope you all are having great week!

Vania

Hello January! So Far, So Good

I’ve been a little quiet in my part of the world, not even posting on social media (yikes!) and I thought I’d check in and let you all know what I’ve been working on.

The release date for Wicked Games is getting closer and I’m so excited! I want to share the cover, but I have to pace myself, so I’ll do that in a month or so. Also, I’ll be getting ARCs ready to go as well. Wicked Games is a billionaire, small-town, romantic suspense with no third-act breakup. It’s a standalone, but it’s a little longer like most of my standalones are. Unfortunately, I won’t be putting it up on Booksprout like I have in the past, so if you’ve downloaded my ARCs from there before, watch this space or my Facebook Author page for access to those advanced review copies.

I can’t keep all the details all to myself though, and maybe you can find the hints in this graphic. Can you tell where this story takes place?

foggy lake in greys and blacks  text reads: wicked games coming may 15th 2026
Two broken hearts.
One small Minnesota town.
Too many secrets to count.

I’ve also been going back and dusting off my old Cedar Hill duet. Those were the first books I published under my initials when I started my pen name, and it’s been so fun to read those over again. I’m also giving them new covers, better ones that match the stories. I’m not sure the dates those will be re-released, but I will let you know!

Besides that, it’s cold, and spring can’t come soon enough! Pim is doing well. She’s been with us for eight months, but it seems like she’s always been a part of our family. I love that she likes to sit on my lap in the mornings while I edit and drink coffee. She’s a little menace who gets lonely, but luckily there’s always someone home.

tuxedo cat looking up at author while sitting in her lap at the kitchen table

That’s all I have for this month. I hope you all are having a great start to the New Year!

I’ll talk to you soon!

Vania

Fall Reads & Road Trips: October Update 🍂

Happy October! There’s been a lot going on in my corner of the world and I thought I would pop into your inbox and say hey!

Last Sunday my sister, daughter, and I went on our yearly road trip to Maplewood State Park near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. It was a lovely drive and the temperatures were just right. The trip actually did double duty, though I didn’t know at the time. One, to get out of the city to look at the leaves as it’s peak leaf-viewing season here, but two, driving through Pelican Rapids was something I needed but didn’t know I needed until I did it, if that makes sense. I’m working on a new book right now and it’s set in a small, northern Minnesota town. The vibes of Pelican Rapids fit just right. The quiet Main Street, the schools, the tiny fire department. It will be a perfect backdrop for my angsty contemporary romance. They also had a giant pelican statue (his name is Pete) that probably won’t make it into my book, but he was fun to look at just the same.

picture of a pelican--white body, orange beak. standing on a type of fenced overlook. blue sky and a bridge in the background

Loss and Damages has been out for three weeks, and the launch has been great! I’ve been getting really lovely feedback from all who have read it so far. If you grabbed an ARC, now would be the perfect time to leave a review. I appreciate your time and willingness to share! 💕

You can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/Loss-Damages-VM-Rheault-ebook/dp/B0FKFH8QT9

white text on dark red flowers:
“Hello. Can I help you?”

Her voice does funny things to my cock. I know it’s Jemma Ferrell before I turn my gaze away from the teacup, and it only took those two seconds for the words to leave her mouth for me to fantasize about fucking her. Her lips to my ear, begging for more as I’m buried so deeply inside her I can’t think about the next deal.

That would be quite an accomplishment.

Keeping my head in bed.


Loss and Damages

I’ve decided to release Wicked Games in May of 2026! I know that’s a bit of a wait, but I wanted to give you a heads up. I’ll be doing the cover reveal, ARCs, and all that good stuff here, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t or bookmark this site to check back.

Wicked Games is a standalone Billionaire romantic suspense, and I can’t wait for you to meet Seth and Avery!

foggy black and white lake with the text:
When Seth Lockwood retreats to the little town of Lakehaven Falls to mourn his son who was killed in a ransom kidnapping gone wrong, he falls in love with a woman who could be in 
the middle of it all. 

Wicked Games, May 2026

That’s all I have for this month. I hope you’re having beautiful fall weather wherever you are!

I’ll check back with you soon.

Vania 🌻

Loss and Damages ARCs have been claimed!

brick background. cover of loss and damages, man wearing tuxedo. text says, loss and damages vm rheault tagline says, "I'll never be the man she needs me to be."

graphic text says I'm the most hated man in the city. I don't f*cking care. Until I meet Jemma.

Thank you to everyone who claimed an ARC of Loss and Damages. They’ve all been taken, and I’m thrilled!

If you missed your chance and would still like to read and review, contact me at vaniarheault(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll email you an ePub or PDF. This offer is good until July 31st, after that I’m halting all ARC campaigns so I can put Loss and Damages on pre-order.

Loss and Damages won’t be live until September 15th, so take your time and I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! ☀️


If you’re looking for something else to read at the pool or beach, or if you’re staying inside in the air conditioning, you can always download My Biggest Mistake, a Billionaire, ugly-duckling, standalone novel. You can find it here: https://BookHip.com/CMSVSNK

My Biggest Mistake graphic. grey background. picture of book cover on a Kindle tablet.  cover is man wearing navy suit. title of the book my biggest mistake. vm rheault. tagline says, "I lost her before I knew I wanted her."

grahic says, "The day I hurt you is the day I threw away waht could have been the best ten years of my life. It's my biggest mistake."