This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
The new year always feels like a clean page.
Not because everything resets overnight, but because there’s a quiet pause where you get to choose what kind of story comes next. What you carry forward. And what you’re ready to close with intention.
This year, my book goals are about momentum, focus, and honoring every story at the right moment.
One Final Goodbye Before Moving Forward
Before I talk about what’s ahead, I want to acknowledge something important.
In February, I’ll be releasing the final installment in the Coastal Investigations series.
That series has meant a lot to me. It held stories of resilience, love under pressure, and characters who stayed with me long after the last page. Closing it isn’t about walking away. It’s about finishing strong and giving those characters the ending they deserve.
Some series don’t fade out.
They complete their arc.
And that’s what Coastal Investigations is doing.
A Year Built on Momentum, Not Pressure
With that chapter closing, this year becomes about forward motion.
My primary goal is to release one book every one to two months across two series that are driving my creative energy right now:
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Agents of HIS, where elite operatives face high-risk missions and even higher emotional stakes
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Fireline Hearts, a new series where courage, heat, and connection burn as fiercely as the fires themselves
This pace isn’t about rushing. It’s about staying immersed in these worlds, maintaining emotional continuity, and delivering stories while the tension still crackles in the air.
Why This Rhythm Works for Me
When I stay connected to a story world, the characters remain loud.
Their voices don’t fade.
The stakes stay sharp.
The romance stays urgent.
Writing consistently allows me to carry emotional momentum from one book to the next, rather than resetting every time. It also means you don’t have to wait long between stories, which matters deeply to me as both a writer and a reader.
Two Series. One Promise.
Agents of HIS will continue to deliver danger, devotion, and romances forged in the middle of chaos. These are stories where trust is tested under fire and love is never the easy choice.
Fireline Hearts brings a different kind of intensity. Firefighters, investigators, and everyday heroes who run toward danger. The romance here is grounded, emotional, and shaped by bravery when it counts.
Different worlds. Same core promise.
Love doesn’t come easy.
And the happily-ever-after is always earned.
Looking Beyond This Year
While my focus this year is firmly on Agents of HIS and Fireline Hearts, I’m also laying the groundwork for something special in the future.
In 2026, I’ll be releasing a stand-alone novel with The Wild Rose Press.
It’s a different rhythm, a different creative space, and a story I’m excited to let unfold at its own pace. Right now, it’s a seed I’m nurturing quietly, knowing it will bloom when the time is right.
Turning the Page Together
This year is about honoring endings, committing to momentum, and showing up consistently with stories that matter.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for trusting me with your time and your heart.
Thank you for staying with me through every chapter.
New year.
New romance.
And so many stories still waiting to be told.
Thanks for joining me on Ink & Intrigue, where romance and suspense go hand in hand.
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Want more behind-the-scenes content, writing tips, or a peek into my books? Visit sheilakell.com or follow me on social media at @sheilakellbooks.
Until next time—keep writing, keep swooning, and remember: every heart has a secret.