Double Release Day!

27 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in book tours Tags: , , , , , ,

Today is a day to celebrate not one but two new books being released into the world.

Book one is Original Thoughts by my writing friend, Elisabeth Warner. Original Thoughts is the third book in her Internet shutdown series.

I don’t want to share the burb from Book three because it will give you spoilers. So here’s the blurb for book one, In Real Life:

In 2100, America has its own Internet, and Lin’s only companions are her AI assistant, Tobi, and the hosts of the Nothing but News podcast keeping her up to date on what’s going on in the outside world. But when the Liberty party shuts down the Internet and arrests anyone with questionable social media activity, Lin moves back in with her parents to hide from the patrol officers. Hope is a far cry from her now.Until her ex-husband shows up.As a professional hacker, Don can delete Lin’s personal archive and wipe her slate clean, making her as good as dead. When she winds up in a place called the “Community,” Lin discovers that connection, and survival, are possible without the Internet.

Original Thoughts on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CWL1CL5T

The Internet Shutdown series on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJPN7G8H

Book Two is The DOSA Files anthology, the book in which I have a short story.

If you love epic tales of heroism, humor, and heart, you’ll adore this collection.

Featuring stories from:
H.L. Burke, Sarah Pennington, Amber Gabriel, Karen Eisenbrey, Rena Gail, Jake Tyson, K.M. Carroll, C.O. Bonham, Michelle L. Houston, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt.

Available on Amazon now! Get your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5JS32QJ

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212327283-dosa-files

DOSA Needs Your Help!

The Cryptographer is targeting DOSA and scrambling their communications. We need your help to solve the codes and unscramble the messages.

Scattered throughout the various blog posts are six clues. Find them all and solve the puzzles to get a secret passcode. That passcode will give you entry to this form: https://forms.gle/55fAGSXAyyjDEFCw9

You have until July first to enter so don’t delay.

Check out the other stops on our blog tour to decode all the encryptions and enter to win!

https://www.hlburkeauthor.com

https://jenelleschmidt.com

https://cobonham.com/2024/06/21/dosa-files-blog-tour-inspiration-for-my-story-and-secret-code/

https://authorambergabriel.com/blog

https://corinnejet.wordpress.com/2024/06/23/hl-burke-exclusive-interview/ 

http://creatingforcreator.wordpress.com

http://kmcarrollblog.wordpress.com

https://www.rachaelritchey.com

https://kareneisenbreywriter.com/blog

DOSA Files blog tour: Inspiration for my story and secret code!

21 Jun 2024 4 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in book tours Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s my Birthday and to celebrate I am going to talk about something I wrote! As you know I had a story accepted in the upcoming DOSA Files Anthology of superhero stories.

Superhero fans rejoice! The DOSA Files: Tales from the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Anthology is launching June 27th.

If you love epic tales of heroism, humor, and heart, you’ll adore this collection.

Featuring stories from:
H.L. Burke, Sarah Pennington, Amber Gabriel, Karen Eisenbrey, Rena Gail, Jake Tyson, K.M. Carroll, C.O. Bonham, Michelle L. Houston, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt.

About the Book:

10 Authors, 10 Stories, Endless Ways to Save the Day!

The Award-Winning Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series expands with this new ten-story anthology of exciting superhero (and villain!) tales.

Enter a world of superpowered heroes… and villains. Of epic adventure and hope.

In this collection you’ll find tales of humor, action, and suspense. Meet brave heroes, quippy villains, and desperate vigilantes.

All featured stories are PG or lower, making this a great read for all ages, but especially for fans of superhero fiction, heartfelt moments, and snarky humor.

Featuring New Superhero Stories from Award Winning authors as well as exciting new voices in the genre.

Are you ready to save the day?

Available on Amazon June 27th! Get your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5JS32QJ

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212327283-dosa-files

My Inspiration for “Letting Off Steam.”

My story “Letting Off Steam” is a very fan service filled story filled with cameos from established SVR characters. But did you know it actually ties into another novel in the universe? Power Through is book three in the Supervillain Rescue Project. (The one with Marco on the cover.) From this book, I borrowed the setting, the villian, and of course Marco.

The truth: I just really wanted to write a story with Marco in it.

The more interesting version of the story behind the story:

As soon as Heidi mentioned that she wanted to open up her superhero universe to other authors, I knew I wanted to be included. I have read all the SVR books and had a wish list of all the things I wanted to know more about or include in a story.

I knew I was going to use Marco and an early draft actually had the story almost entirely from Marco’s POV. But once I realized that Violet was the more important of the characters I slowly took away Marco’s POV to make room for hers. But the more I wrote Violet, a.k.a. Valve, the more I figured out who she was and the more this became her story.

For Violet’s backstory, I took a cue from Stephen King. I always thought that Carrie was not a horror story but a superhero origin story in which the person chooses the wrong path. Why does Carrie become the villain? Because she has no support system or safe place to go. Her home life is just as bad as her school life.

So Violet also needed to have nowhere to go. Her dad hates sables and school is only survivable by pretending to not exist. There’s also the whole girls attacking her in the locker room thing too.

Next I needed a villain, and I needed one that would have a good reason to visit the abandoned steampunk park without knowing that someone was already living there. Who better than the man who used to use it as a lair. I also included Seth Wallace’s sister who appears in Captured by a Supervillain book three in the Supervillain Romance Project series, because I wanted the satisfaction of the two villains named Wallace actually interacting with each other.

But the real reason I wrote this story is — I really wanted to use the abandoned steampunk park as a base for a vigilante steampunk superhero.

My favorite part of the story was fleshing out the Jules Verne theme park. I went through the original descriptions and tried to make sure nothing I added contradicted them while also not repeating anything. After fleshing it out I really want to go there.

I used to work at an amusement park when I was younger. I pulled a lot of the feeling of walking through an empty park from that experience. Amusement parks are so different when you’re alone. They’re suddenly too big and too quiet and you feel so small walking through them.

The DOSA Files: Tales from the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Anthology is available on Amazon June 27th! Get your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5JS32QJ

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212327283-dosa-files

DOSA Needs Your Help!

The Cryptographer is targeting DOSA and scrambling their communications. We need your help to solve the codes and unscramble the messages.

Scattered throughout the various blog posts are six clues. Find them all and solve the puzzles to get a secret passcode. That passcode will give you entry to this form: https://forms.gle/55fAGSXAyyjDEFCw9

If you succeed DOSA will give you a chance to win a library of books written by the DOSA archivists.

One lucky puzzle solver will win a mini-ebook library of titles from our authors. (Winners chosen July 1st, 2024)

OR

One lucky puzzle solver will win a mini-paperback library of titles from our authors (US shipping only).

Decrypt Message Two:

ᛏᚺᛁᛜᛊ ᚨᚱᛖ ᚷᛖᛏᛏᛁᛜ ᛊᛖᚱᛟᚢᛊ, ᛊᛈᛖᚲᛟᚨᛚ ᚨᚷᛖᚾᛏ. ᚹᛖ ᚨᛏᛏᛖᛗᛈᛏᛖᛞ ᛏᛟ ᛊᛖᚾᛞ ᚨ ᛗᛖᛊᛊᚨᚷᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛚᚨᛚᛖᚺ ᚨᛊᚺᛖ, ᚺᛟᛈᛁᛜ ᚺᛖᚱ ᛏᛖᚲᚺ ᛈᛟᚹᛖᚱᛊ ᚹᛟᚢᛚᛞ ᛒᛖ ᛖᚾᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᛏᛟ ᚢᚾᛞᛟ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚲᚱᛁᛈᛏᛟᚷᚱᚨᛈᚺᛖᚱ’ᛊ ᛗᛁᛊᚲᚺᛁᛖᚠ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁᛏ ᛊᛟᛗᛖᚺᛟᚹ ᚱᛖᚹᚱᛟᛏᛖ ᛟᚢᚱ ᛗᛖᛊᛊᚨᚷᛖ ᛁᚾᛏᛟ ᚨ ᚱᛁᚲᚲᚱᛟᛚᛚ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛊᚺᛖ ᛒᛚᛟᚲᚲᛖᛞ ᚢᛊ. ᛁᛟᚢ ᛗᚨᛁ ᛏᚱᚢᛚᛁ ᛒᛖ ᛟᚢᚱ ᛟᚾᛚᛁ ᚺᛟᛈᛖ. ᛏᚺᛖ ᛊᛖᚲᛟᚾᛞ ᛚᛖᛏᛏᛖᚱ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᛈᚨᛊᛊᚲᛟᛞᛖ ᛁᛊ ᛟ.

Check out the other stops on our blog tour to decode all the encryptions and enter to win!

June 20th:

https://www.hlburkeauthor.com

https://jenelleschmidt.com

June 21st:

http://Cobonham.com (You are here, obviously!)

June 22nd:

https://authorambergabriel.com/blog

June 23rd:

https://corinnejet.wordpress.com/2024/06/23/hl-burke-exclusive-interview/ (post goes live 6/23/2024 6:30 AM PST)

June 24th:

http://creatingforcreator.wordpress.com

http://kmcarrollblog.wordpress.com

June 25th:

https://www.rachaelritchey.com

June 26th:

https://kareneisenbreywriter.com/blog/

June 27th:

https://Whichwaywriting.com

Don’t forget: once you’ve solved all the clues and discovered the passcode you can enter to win one of two epic prizes here: https://forms.gle/55fAGSXAyyjDEFCw9

Game On: SVR the next generation.

26 May 2024 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in book tours, Dive In Review, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,


I’m back with even more SVR news. The Anthology Kickstarter is closed and We are getting the Audio version! Thank you to everyone who backed it. If you did back the Kickstarter then you may have seen a new SVR book available as an add on. That book just released today and it’s all about the next generation of teens in the SVR universe.

NEW RELEASE!
From the Award Winning Superhero Universe by H.L. Burke comes a brand new Young Adult
Series set in the world of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project.
Follow the next generation of young superheroes as they compete to prove themselves, forge
new friendships, and strengthen family bonds.
The book is now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Buy it now to experience the
continuing saga of the Powell family.

Game On
Supervillain Legacy Project Book 1
The Department of Super Abled has announced the first-ever teen competition: a multi-stage
challenge to find the next great superhero talent … and Ruby Powell wants in.
The daughter of superheroes, fifteen-year-old Ruby has spent her whole life waiting to be old
enough to start saving the day. When the Sable Games are announced, she sees her chance.
Step 1, convince her superstar mother to lead her team. Step 2, prove herself the most valuable
member of her team and win the hearts of the viewing public. Step 3, win the game and set
herself up as DOSA’s next big thing.
The son of a supervillain, Oliver Shelby has a lot to prove. When his application is rejected due
to his history of heart issues, it looks like he’ll be sidelined. The Powells’ new underdog team
might be his last chance. All he has to do is fudge the paperwork about his extensive medical
history and hide the huge surgical scar on his chest. No big deal, right?
With some teens willing to play dirty for the top spot, Oliver and Ruby’s team struggles to stay in
the running. If Oliver’s secret gets out, will they even be allowed to compete?

Author Bio
H. L. Burke is the author of multiple fantasy novels including the Supervillain Rehabilitation
Project Series, the Spellsmith & Carver Steampunk series, and Ashen. She is an admirer of the
whimsical, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.
Author Links
www.hlburkeauthor.com
https://www.instagram.com/burkesdragons/
https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter

My Review

Author H.L. Burke has done it again. That’s right, even more superhero books. Game on is the first book in a new series featuring the next generation of heros, AKA the children of the characters from her previous series.

Usually, I like to tell people were to start reading but there are too many books in this universe and Game On has a shiny #1 on the cover so I guess well go with that. Besides, nearly every previous character makes a cameo so I can’t even go by who is in the book. Still there is an inate joy in seeing character grow and change over time.

On that note, I really loved getting to know the new cast of characters, especially Oliver. He was introduced in Burke’s most recent release Wishing on a Supervillain and it was interesting getting to see him all grown up.

Game On is a different kind of superhero book though. Instead of a villain to fight or a world to save, This is a sports book. Camp Sable’s Team needs to win the game and defeat the rival team to win the first ever Sable competition. I don’t normally read sports stories, but as always, everything is better with superpowers.

Buy Links
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1NXMW2R

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211316346-game-on

Additional Extras:
The Cover as a jigsaw puzzle https://im-a-puzzle.com/share/4261384c891ac41

Epic SVR News: A Kickstarter

29 Apr 2024 1 Comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news, Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , ,

Long time readers of this blog should know that I am obsessed with H.L. Burkes Superhero universe. It’s expanded well beyond the first five novels into MCU levels of content. And now it’s expanding again.

DOSA Files superhero anthology: 10 talented authors, 10 thrilling stories, ENDLESS ways to save the day.

That’s right, an anthology. Late last year H.L. Burke put out a call for submissions to see if anyone wanted to write stories in her expansive universe. Because she wants to actually pay the authors for their stories. H.L. Burke is running a Kickstarter to cover expenses.

DOSA Files cover art

10 Authors, 10 Stories, Endless Ways to Save the Day!

The Award-Winning Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series expands with this new ten-story anthology of exciting superhero (and villain!) tales.

Enter a world of superpowered heroes… and villains. Of epic adventure and hope. 

In this collection you’ll find tales of humor, action, and suspense. Meet brave heroes, quippy villains, and desperate vigilantes. 

All featured stories are PG or lower, making this a great read for all ages, but especially for fans of superhero fiction, heartfelt moments, and snarky humor. 

Featuring New Superhero Stories from Award Winning authors as well as exciting new voices in the genre. 

Are you ready to save the day?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dosafiles/tales-from-the-svr-universe-superhero-anthology?ref=user_menu

Not only did I write a story for it—it was accepted!

I am excited to introduce you to Violet Rivelt AKA Valve. My story even borrows a setting from one of the main books. In the novel Power Through, the final fight takes place at a Jules Verne themed amusement park. I loved that park and wanted to know more about it. So I when Heidi gave me permission to expand on it, I strapped on my goggles and wound my gears. And because I am a huge SVR fangirl, you can expect lots of cameos from my favorite characters.

Letting Off Steam by C.O. Bonham
When teenage Violet’s powers manifest unexpectedly in a school locker room, she’s convinced DOSA will have pegged her as a villain.
Fleeing to an abandoned, steampunk-themed amusement park, she struggles to get a handle on her powers and discover her true identity. 
The sudden appearance of actual supervillains throws a wrench in the gears.
Rewards Fit For Heroes—or Villains.

With the knowledge that I wrote a story in this anthology it might sound self-serving to ask you to back this Kickstarter, but as has been established I am a fangirl for this universe and you know I would be asking you to back it anyway, even if my story had been rejected. And there are some epic backer rewards.

Yes, there’s the standard ebook and paperback tiers, but there’s also a tier that gets you a TTRPG session DM’d by H.L, Burke herself. As someone who plays D&D with Heidi, I can assure you, this is a premium gaming experience.

If you can’t afford to back right now, that’s okay too. You can still help by sharing the Kickstarter. The campaign is only about a hundred dollars away from being fully funded at the time of this writing. Then we can start the stretch goals. Goal #1 is an audiobook production of the anthology. I am rooting for this goal because I love audiobooks and I’ve never had something I wrote in audio before.

Back or share the Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dosafiles/tales-from-the-svr-universe-superhero-anthology?ref=user_menu

Add it to your TBR on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212327283-dosa-files

Second Chance Superhero Cover Reveal

26 Aug 2023 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , , , , ,

If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know I am in love with the Superhero books by H.L. Burke. Her newest book releases next month and I am so excited! I was a beta reader for this book and it was amazing, So for this cover reveal I’m also giving you my honest opinion.

SECOND CHANCE SUPERHERO BLURB

Once a slacker, now a superhero, but will his ex buy the change?

Eleven years ago, Brayden Water’s high school sweetheart slammed the door in his face. Floundering, he found purpose first in the military, then by volunteering for genetic enhancements and joining the Department of Super-Abled as a full-time hero. Just when everything’s looking up, a family emergency summons him back to the hometown he gleefully put in his rearview. And guess who else is back in town? 

Rachel Blum has had it with men in general. A single mom who managed to scratch her way through medical school, she’s accepted that she can’t depend on anyone … especially not her sometimes criminal baby daddy, and definitely not her high school ex who has popped up out of nowhere after a decade of radio silence. Dang, though, Brayden’s even hotter than she remembered, and there’s … something different about him now, though she can’t quite put her finger on what. Could he really have finally gotten his act together? Can she take the risk?

Brayden’s bitterness over Rachel’s rejection slowly turns to admiration and begrudging affection. But even if he drops the fact that he can now fly and shoot lasers out of his eyes, will she ever see him as anything but a small-town loser? When her son’s father starts causing trouble, though, Brayden realizes, she might just need a hero in her life after all.

A review from me:

Second Chance Superhero chronologically follows Accidentally a Supervillain, But officially this is book three in the Superhero Romance Project, and so technically follows Superhero Ever After.

This book is a swoony in all the right ways. Wholesome ways, hilarious ways, and heroic ways. I always love the Characters in this series, but these are especially sweet. Because they dated in highschool Brayden and Rachel have so much on page chemistry.

But of all the cozy superheroes — can superheroes be cozy? If they can this is probably the Coziest. The big fight, scenes are only in the beginning and the end. And only the villains in the beginning are a real threat. It really feels like a look at what real life would be like for a real superhero. I love superpowers but seriously, this book would be an easy special effects budget. (What are you waiting for Hallmark?)

Reading this book is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket, lighting a scented candle, putting in a Marvel movie and pulling up your shopping cart of wine. (I promise that last part will make sense when you read it.)

This book was even better because of the amount of inside jokes that you get when you know the Author personally. I would tell them all to you — but you really had to be there.

As always, I read an early version of this book for the LOLs. Then I decided, all on my own, to inflict my opinion of it on you.

REVIEWS FROM EARLY READERS:

“Can superheroes be cozy? Second Chance Superhero is the novel equivalent of a Marvel movie, a shopping cart of wine, and a scented candle.” 

— C.O. Bonham, author of Runaway Lyrics (That’s Me!)

“Great story! It’s like a Hallmark movie with a sci-fi budget.”

— Max B. Sternberg, author of The Rhise of Light

“H.L. Burke’s superhero books just keep getting better and better! (And they were amazing to begin with.) I have devoured every book in the series and eagerly await each new release. In Second Chance Superhero, I was sucked in to Brayden’s and Rachel’s plight, rooting for them to overcome their pasts, and couldn’t stop reading. No matter which book you pick up in this series, I highly recommend!”

— Michele Israel Harper, award-winning editor and author of Kill the Beast

Second Chance Superhero is a new Superhero Romance from author H.L. Burke and part of the longer, multi-series SVR/DOSAverse expanded universe of superhero fiction. 

The book launches on September 9th, but you can pre-order it on Amazon. 

It’s a tale of love after heartbreak, coming home, and second chances featuring a cocky but damaged superhero and the high school sweetheart who broke his heart but is now a single mom (and doctor)  haunted by her own past… also, French fries, a cart-load of wine, and surprisingly high number of dinosaurs. 

Book Links:

https://amzn.to/3QWw09w*
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196959641-second-chance-superhero 

Author Bio:

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high. 

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder. 

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters). 

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Author Links

www.hlburkeauthor.com 

https://amzn.to/47GnjpA*

https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter

https://www.instagram.com/burkesdragons/

https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter

https://www.tiktok.com/@hlburkeanddragon?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

*This Blog is a member of the Amazon Associates program clicking an Amazon Link will give me a small kick back at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.

Accidentally a Cover Reveal

13 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , ,

Accidentally a Supervillain, book 5 in H.L. Burke’s Supervillain Romance Project series from the Award Winning SVR Literary Universe, launches May 27th, 2023.

A fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek romcom featuring a risk-averse heroine pulled from her normal life by the sudden emergence of superpowers and an irrepressible supervillain who draws her out of her safe world of spread sheets and nights in with her cat.

Link to the series page*: https://amzn.to/3zSKFsj

Link to the pre-order*: https://amzn.to/3GF4YNJ


Link to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126519913-accidentally-a-supervillain

Accidentally a Supervillain

Book 5 in the Supervillain Romance Project Series

Superpowers are a super pain.

The non-powered middle child of a superhero family, Abigail Park has always taken pride in being “the normal one.” No flying and throwing power blasts for her, thank you. Just a safe, steady office job, evenings in with her cat, and weekly hot yoga when she’s feeling adventurous. Genetics can be cruel.

When Abigail finds herself in the line of fire during a superhero and supervillain standoff, her latent abilities literally explode—blasting the HERO unconscious and catching the eye of sound-manipulating villain Thunderstruck. Threatening to send proof of her “aiding” him to the authorities, he blackmails her into helping him in his next big heist—against her own boss.

Abigail wants out, but as her antagonistic banter with Thunderstruck turns to something weirdly resembling flirting, the smirking villain hints that his intended target isn’t as innocent as Abigail believes him to be. Can Abigail get Thunderstruck to trust her with his secrets or is it all a cover for a more malevolent plan?

If Abigail can’t figure this out, she’s never going to hear the end of it at family dinners … if she even manages to make it out alive at all.

Author Bio Long

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high.

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Author Links:

● https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter

● https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter/

● https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_Burke

● https://www.tiktok.com/@hlburkeanddragon

● https://www.instagram.com/burkesdragons/

● https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/

Book 1 is Free April 11-18. The rest are all ninety-nine cents each.

Here’s the link to the series again*: https://amzn.to/3zSKFsj

*This website uses affiliate links through the Amazon Associates program. Every time you buy a book using one of these links the blogger gets pennies from Amazon at no cost to you. Those pennies will add up into nickels and eventually dimes.

Be Our Guest Post: Superhero Rom Coms.

02 Nov 2022 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post Tags: , , ,

Back again already? Yes, I know I just posted yesterday but I have more content for you. Today I have a guest post from author H.L. Burke, the author of the entertaining and ever expanding SVR universe.

She is here today to explain why Romantic comedies would be better with superpowers. So without future ado…

So, I do like a good romantic comedy … but I also like superheroes and the two things just aren’t combined nearly enough.

Because of this, I have created a list of five romantic comedies that could be improved with the addition of superpowers, along with handy notes on how for studios to act upon.

My List of Romantic Comedies That Could Be Improved With The Addition Of Superpowers.

While You Were Sleeping

Imagine if instead of sort of wimpily pushing Peter Gallagher’s character off the train tracks, a super strong Sandra Bullock had LIFTED HIM off then leaped over the train, landing on the roof, surfed it for several blocks, and THEN gently lowered him to safety—before getting mistaken for his fiance and falling in love with his much more likable brother.

Sleepless in Seattle

First off, this whole thing is about falling in love with a guy while not knowing who he is other than being an anonymous voice on the radio. Secret identities, anyone?

What if instead of a normie, Tom Hank’s character was a superhero and THAT is why he’s having a hard time getting back into dating. Also, instead of taking a plane flight last minute, he could totally FLY across the country to meet her at the top of the Empire States Building. She could even maybe slip and fall off the observation deck and he could catch her mid-fall. Much more exciting.

Romancing the Stone

This is already an epic adventure with over-the-top villains and a quest to find a legendary artifact. You could so easily add in some superpowers. It’s basically a done deal.

You’ve Got Mail

Instead of competing business owners, what if these internet penpals were actually competing supers. Usually Tom Hank’s big business guy would be the villain, but I’d say make him the corporate hero who has all the power whiles she’s a scrappy, underdog anti-hero type who doesn’t have the backing of the government agencies or the respect of the people, just the power of READING.

Groundhog’s Day

As a twist, Bill Murray’s character isn’t caught in a time loop. He’s being held in place by a supervillain, the titular groundhog, who can manipulate time and wants to hold the whole town hostage. Only Murray has the ability to see past the illusion because of his own latent superpowers, which he will use to save Andie McDowell when she’s inevitably strapped to a clock tower at some point in the climactic sequence.

While we’re waiting for Hollywood to get on these rewrites, I would suggest you should probably read a Superhero for Christmas. It will give you that romantic comedy “daww” and “awww” fix while not depriving you of the superpowered goodness you need.

About the Author:
H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books,
not just because she can’t count very high.
Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance,
Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.
Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising
her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).
An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious
flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

I want to thank H.L. Burke for that informative guest post. I know I’d like to see each of those movies again with an added superhero or two. If you agree and would like to read a real super hero Rom Com then check out Her newest book A Superhero for Christmas. I got to read an early reader copy, and I absolutely loved it.

My review of A Superhero for Christmas

A Superhero for Christmas is a standalone installment in the SVR universe of novels. As a longtime reader of this series I adored the references and nods, but overall this book is very self contained. It really would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie.

I loved Glint in this story. In previous novels Glint is a very minor character but he really shines in his first solo outing. He is a big adorable floor and he will steal your heart like he stole mine.

Christmas is little more than the time of year the story takes place in making A superhero for Christmas a cozy romance that can be enjoyed all year long.

Marvel hero action collides with Hallmark Holiday goodness in this new superhero romantic
comedy by Award-Winning author H.L Burke. Launches November 5th, 2022!
A Superhero for Christmas
When superhero, Glint’s, aka Henry Nichols’s, powers go on the fritz after a supervillain attack,
he finds himself rethinking his priorities. Years of devotion to public service have left him with
little for himself, and with forty swiftly approaching, he finds himself longing for his youth on his
grandfather’s farm. An incognito vacation is just what he needs.
Former reporter Lara Landis lost her career and her only long-term relationship all in one
Humiliating blow. Broke and rudderless, she retreats to her parents’ small town grocery store to
try and make one last career rally, but how is she going to get a big scoop living in the middle of
nowhere? When a poorly disguised superhero lands in her neighborhood, insisting that he’s just
a normal guy, she can’t help but smell a story.
As their chance encounters turn into a begrudging friendship, Lara is surprised to find a caring,
sincere human beneath Henry’s press-conference-ready exterior. When the truth comes out,
though, her big story could turn into his worst nightmare.
What are readers saying about A Superhero For Christmas:
Hallmark and Marvel got together to have a baby, Superhero for Christmas. An adorable
heart-warming cozy read for the reader looking for some superhero charm with their
rom-com.~Ticia
Christmas, romance, and superheroes…this story lifted my heart up, up, and away!~Ernie
Laurence, Jr, author of the Islands of Loar series.
A cozy Christmas rom-com with superheroes… it doesn’t get better than this! ~ Brianna
This story has all of the feels with, thankfully, not a thing that was sappy. This is how I have
always wished Hallmark holiday stories were written. ~ Veronica Lynn AKA Mrs. Spellsmith


Links:
Amazon Pre-Order*:
https://amzn.to/3flTGnb
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62611074-a-superhero-for-christmas
Website:
https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-projec

In addition to writing amazing stories H.L. Burke is also great at hosting giveaways. Click the link to enter this giveaway for a superhero themed cozy winter gift basket (US Only) or a 12 ebook superhero library (International) Giveaway | Rafflecopter 🙂

And if you want more superhero, Rom Com goodness make sure you check out H.L. Burke’s Blind Date with a Supervillain. and On the Run with a Supervillain.

Blind Date Amazon link*: https://amzn.to/3WkO0ug

On the Run Amazon link*: https://amzn.to/3NoJ0AF

*This website uses affiliate links through the Amazon Associates program. Every time you buy a book using one of these links the blogger gets pennies from Amazon at no cost to you. Those pennies will add up into nickels and eventually dimes.

What do you think, would more rom coms be better with superpowers?

Who wants to see Hallmark make A Superhero for Christmas into a movie?

Cover Reveal: A Superhero for Christmas

24 Sep 2022 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , , ,

If Marvel and Hallmark had a baby, it would be A Superhero For Christmas

A Superhero for Christmas, a holiday superhero romantic comedy by H. L. Burke arrives to save the day November 5th, 2022.

Pre-order now so it hits your E-readers in plenty of time for Christmas.

This cozy Christmas romance takes place in the same world as Burke’s Supervillain Rehabilitation Project, but can be read independently.

A SUPERHERO FOR CHRISTMAS

When superhero, Glint’s, aka Henry Nichols’s, powers go on the fritz after a supervillain attack, he finds himself rethinking his priorities. Years of devotion to public service have left him with little for himself, and with forty swiftly approaching, he finds himself longing for his youth on his grandfather’s farm. An incognito vacation is just what he needs.

Former reporter Lara Landis lost her career and her only long-term relationship all in one humiliating blow. Broke and rudderless, she retreats to her parents’ small town grocery store to try and make one last career rally, but how is she going to get a big scoop living in the middle of nowhere? When a poorly disguised superhero lands in her neighborhood, insisting that he’s just a normal guy, she can’t help but smell a story.

As their chance encounters turn into a begrudging friendship, Lara is surprised to find a caring, sincere human beneath Henry’s press-conference-ready exterior. When the truth comes out, though, her big story could turn into his worst nightmare.

Amazon Pre-Order:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFK45G8K

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62611074-a-superhero-for-christmas

What are early readers saying about A Superhero for Christmas?

Hallmark and Marvel got together to have a baby, Superhero for Christmas. An adorable heart-warming cozy read for the reader looking for some superhero charm with their rom-com.~Ticia

Christmas, romance, and superheroes…this story lifted my heart up, up, and away!~Ernie Laurence,  Jr, author of the Islands of Loar series.

A cozy Christmas rom-com with superheroes… it doesn’t get better than this! ~ Brianna

This story has all of the feels with, thankfully, not a thing that was sappy. This is how I have always wished Hallmark holiday stories were written. ~ Veronica Lynn AKA Mrs. Spellsmith

Website:

https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project

About the Author:

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high.

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

A Super cover for a Super new book!

08 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , , ,

If you’ve been reading this blog for a couple years then you know that I am a huge fan of H.L. Burke’s Superheroes series. The newest installment is getting a cover today. This is actually the third boo in her YA spinoff series.

This novel is one I’m very hyped for. Marco is one of my favorite characters in the YA series, because he is an adorkable floof who just wants to do the right thing. He is my innocent little Marco-mallow and he looks so bad-ass on this cover. I am so worried about what this mean author is going to put him through.

When family’s involved, the line between hero and villain can get blurry.

15-year-old Marco Reyes has spent a year at a camp for at-risk superpowered teens, learning to control his fire throwing abilities in hopes of being a superhero someday. With his powers mastered, he wants nothing more than to return to his mother. His mother, though, may not be ready to care for him.

When Marco’s Mom blows off their meeting in San Diego, Marco’s guardians take it as a sign the woman isn’t responsible enough to care for her superpowered son. Marco, though, knows that this time something’s different from his mother’s other absences. He’s convinced someone’s taken her.

Slipping away from the safety of his camp family, Marco follows a clue that leads to a supervillain recruiting agency and allies with a supervillain who is after the same agency for her own reasons. Marco’s camp friends are on his trail, but will he find his mom before they bring him in? Or is his mother simply a pawn in a much deadlier scheme?

To celebrate the pre-order and cover reveal of book 3 in the Supervillain Rescue Project YA Superhero series, book 1 is free, book 2 is 99c, and for a limited time you can pre-order book 3 for 99c as well! Promotion ends February 12th, so act soon!

A character driven series filled with action, found family, and superpowered adventure!

Full series here

Book 1 (free 2/8-12)

Power On

Jake’s family ties have turned to cuffs.

Born with the ability to fragment his body at a molecular level, Jake Lucas has devoted his life to his uncle’s supervillain gang. When he’s captured by superheroes, he’s certain his life is over at only sixteen.

To Jake’s surprise, he doesn’t end up in prison but at Camp Sable: an intervention project for at-risk super powered teens. Jake’s not interested in rehabilitation. As far as he’s concerned, the camp mentors are just a barrier between him and his true family, the Sand Fox gang.

Forced to work alongside the likewise screwed up duo of fire-powered Marco and electricity manipulator Laleh, Jake waits for the perfect escape opportunity. Having friends and the chance at a real family is more appealing than Jake originally thought, but going soft can cost a supervillain his life. Jake soon finds the forces fighting to control his life threatening to tear him apart.

Will Jake choose to remain the villain his uncle made him, or become the hero his new friends think he can be?

A Young Adult Superhero series featuring found family, friendship, and one superpowered ferret.

Book one

Book 2 (99c 2/8-15)

Power Play

It’s dangerous to go alone. Even for superheroes.

Laleh Ashe has found her first real friends at Camp Sable, a refuge for at-risk superpowered teens, but her politically ambitious mother has other plans. Mrs. Ashe is determined to send Laleh to a fancy, overseas boarding school—far from her friends and the life she’s come to love. To drown her sorrows, Laleh agrees to a table top role playing game with her friends, Marco and Jake, as well as the new girl at camp—shy, withdrawn Rian. Too bad no one warned her about Rian’s reality bending superpowers.

Sucked into a fantasy world created by Rian’s imagination, Laleh and her friends must scramble to master their magical new surroundings and complete their quest if they are to have any hope of getting home again.

This magical world is less fun than it sounds, but as Laleh and her friends face the various challenges, Laleh can’t help but remember that all that waits for her in the real world is separation from her friends and a life under the thumb of her overbearing mom. Maybe going home is seriously overrated.

Superheroes meet Portal Fantasy in this second book of the Supervillain Rescue Project Young Adult Series.

Book Two

Book 3 (99c pre-order)

Power Through

When family’s involved, the line between hero and villain can get blurry.

15-year-old Marco Reyes has spent a year at a camp for at-risk superpowered teens, learning to control his fire throwing abilities in hopes of being a superhero someday. With his powers mastered, he wants nothing more than to return to his mother. His mother, though, may not be ready to care for him.

When Marco’s Mom blows off their meeting in San Diego, Marco’s guardians take it as a sign the woman isn’t responsible enough to care for her superpowered son. Marco, though, knows that this time something’s different from his mother’s other absences. He’s convinced someone’s taken her.

Slipping away from the safety of his camp family, Marco follows a clue that leads to a supervillain recruiting agency and allies with a supervillain who is after the same agency for her own reasons. Marco’s camp friends are on his trail, but will he find his mom before they bring him in? Or is his mother simply a pawn in a much deadlier scheme?

Book three pre-order

Be Our Guest Post: H.L. Burke and Why-A

28 Sep 2021 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , ,

We are taking a break from the Frosted Roses tour to bring you a guest post from author H.L. Burke. This is part of her blog tour for the release of Power On her new superhero YA novel.

Why-A: Guest post from H.L. Burke

Why-A?

Why YA would make more sense but WHY-A was too good a pun to resist.

Where was I?

I am usually very easily distracted. It is unusual for me to stick with a story world beyond a handful of books. Normally I get to the end of a trilogy or a quadrology and maybe I’ve got a couple of short stories left to fill in some gaps, but not much else. I’m ready to move on, find something new. Something shinier. 

For whatever reason, my superheroes won’t let me go. My original four book series plan turned into five plus a short story prequel then a two novella spin off series. That was a lot of books for me. It was time to move on, so I’d decided to retire my main couple but what would they do. Well, they had a baby  now. Maybe they’d quit superheroing for her … but I couldn’t see them quitting the game altogether and I kind of wanted to see how Fade and Prism were as parents … what if they decided to continue rehabilitating supervillains but with a focus on at risk teens instead of adult supervillains? 

Dang it. 

I have to write this now, don’t I?

And here’s where I’ll admit … the main reason I took the series in a YA direction is I really really really like writing Fade as a Dad. 

I’m nearly fifteen years into my marriage, and for almost fourteen of that, my husband has been a dad (we had our first daughter a month after our first anniversary and of course there were nine months of pregnancy preceding that). I love being a mom, but I super love being married to a dad. I like the aura of protection. I like the way it makes a tough guy show his gentle side. I even like the jokes.

So while the focus of the story is on the teens, watching Fade and Prism grow as parents, both with their own infant children and the teens they take in and come to care for was my favorite part. Plus Fade’s dad joke game is strong:

“What’s the prize?” Marco asked.

“It’s a sir,” Fade said from where he stood behind his wife, holding Ruby.

“A what?” Marco scrunched up his face in confusion.

“A sir-prize.” Fade winked. 

All three of the teens groaned.

Plus the main character of this series, Jake, is in desperate need of a strong but loving role model … if only he can bring himself to trust Fade and the rest of the folks at camp long enough to let him fill that gap. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also check out Kandy Wyatts blog to read an interview with Jake the main character in Power On: https://kandijwyatt.com/2021/09/new-supervillain-rehabilitation-project/

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reformed, book one in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project. Is freeree for the moment so don’t miss your chance to grab an awesome book and save on the super cinematic audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085X8N8FL

Power On: Book One in the Supervillain Rescue Project, a new YA Superhero Series from the world of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project

Add Power On to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59003059-power-on

Power on releases October 9th but until then you can pre-order on Amazon. Only ninety-nine cents until October first then the price goes up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GBQF5PG

Jake’s family ties have turned to cuffs.

Born with the ability to fragment his body at a molecular level, Jake Lucas has devoted his life to his uncle’s supervillain gang. When he’s captured by superheroes, he’s certain his life is over at only sixteen.

To Jake’s surprise, he doesn’t end up in prison but at Camp Sable: an intervention project for at-risk super powered teens. Jake’s not interested in rehabilitation. As far as he’s concerned, the camp mentors are just a barrier between him and his true family, the Sand Fox gang.

Forced to work alongside the likewise screwed up duo of fire-powered Marco and electricity manipulator Laleh, Jake waits for the perfect escape opportunity. Having friends and the chance at a real family is more appealing than Jake originally thought, but going soft can cost a supervillain his life. Jake soon finds the forces fighting to control his life threatening to tear him apart.

Will Jake choose to remain the villain his uncle made him, or become the hero his new friends think he can be?

A Young Adult Superhero series featuring found family, friendship, and one superpowered ferret.

Author Bio:

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high.

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder.

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Author Links:

www.twitter.com/hlburkewriter

www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter

www.hlburkeauthor.com

www.instagram.com/burkesdragons

www.facebook.com/groups/hlburkereaders/

https://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B00EYQ1HLW

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_Burke

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