Becky Wicks | Updates

A Fan's Review of Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous

Becky Wicks — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As a fan of rockstar stories I was immediately drawn to this intensely emotional story and am honored to bring it to you. Keep reading to get a glimpse of Before He Was Famous by Ms. Wicks and learn about her process in writing a series.

Also keep reading to get my impressions of this book and learn even more about this book. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win copies of this book too!

This is the first book in the Starstruck series. What is your process for crafting a book series?

Hi! Thanks for having me on the blog… it’s very warm in here.

So… that’s a good question. There are loads of things to keep in mind when you’re coming up with a series of books. I guess, personally, the first is having a good set of stories in mind. I tried to do something original with mine (the aspect of reality television and the consequences of stardom) that had a chance of standing out.

The last thing I wanted once I’d committed to two or three, maybe even more books, was to get bored with my idea, or to see that someone else had beaten me to it. How much would that suck? didn’t have all the details ironed out, but a general outline set me off to a good start and the little things just spider-webbed from there.

Craft your characters carefully

I knew that having a believable set of characters was important from the start. With Before He Was Famous it took a while before I could think about anyone other than Noah and Chloe (it felt like a breakup when I finished the book!), but I quickly knew Alyssa was someone I wanted to follow next, so I went back and concentrated on crafting her into an interesting character. I knew if I did that, then hopefully people would want to read about her continuing endeavors, whatever they might be. I also tried to craft Denzel and Courtney into people who could pop back up and be remembered easily! You may see them again.

Don’t create unnecessary cliffhangers

I always try to wrap up every plot line… I hate gaping holes or when you’re left wondering, well, what about so-and-so? Everyone in a story should have a purpose, no matter how small. I think, if you’re planning to re-introduce a character later, they should explain that they’re doing something, or going somewhere in the previous novel instead of just disappearing. This creates a sense of excitement at catching up with them again later, rather than annoying an audience with the fact that they just vanished.

Visualize it as a movie

Sounds weird but it really helps. I think of my books as if each chapter is a scene in a movie. It helps me structure them and develop the characters, and also to describe what they’re seeing and feeling in more depth. I think of camera angles and everything! I also think you have to put readers in a situation where they don’t just want, but need to know what happens next.

Jumping from Noah’s to Chloe’s point of view in Before He Was Famous not only creates distance between each of their stories (hopefully keeping you turning the pages!) but it creates tension from both sides. It’s even more frustrating knowing that they both want each other but are too afraid to go and get it. Sure it’s annoying to read at times, but that’s the point. If you don’t feel anything when you’re reading a story, we haven’t done our jobs properly as writers.

The biggest thing to remember when coming up with a series, is that you have to love your characters.

If you don’t love them, no one else will. Of course, not everyone is going to like everything you write, no matter what you do… that’s the way of the world. If you don’t feel a connection, you put it down and find a book you like. Easy. The beauty of it is that there are so many stories and so many amazing opportunities to be swept away into another world. We can all find a book, or a series of books that speaks to us!

MY REVIEW

Becky Wicks puts readers through the emotional wringer with this story of friendship, romance, lost opportunities, and the affect of social media on people's lives. Told in alternating first person POVs you find yourself immediately caught up in the evolving relationship between two lifelong friends whose lives are undergoing big changes due to the hero (and oh, what a sexy hero he is!) winning a televised singing competition.

Fear of change, fear of admitting deep seated feelings, and intrusions from the outside world all conspire too keep two people meant to be together from finally taking the plunge and left me frustrated and heartbroken through most of the story as the rocky road to romance commenced for Noah and Chloe as they braved the spotlight and media attention.

Noah and Chloe are like two peas in a pod, they fit together beautifully and have always been there for the other through all sorts of ups and downs. Though they both want more from the other the time never seems right as relationships with outsiders constantly get in the way.

When Noah sees his popularity climbing it might just be the end of them but fate won't give up on these two and throws them together on the road where obligations and the media onslaught weigh heavily on their delicate connection. Amidst unexpected humor, crazed fans, and a vividly depicted music world readers are left on the edge of their seat rooting for Chloe to put aside her fears and take a chance on what is so obvious to Noah. But as her fear compounds their HEA is left hanging in the balance.

Noah is a drool-worthy hero who knows how important Chloe is to him and doesn't hesitate to say so in words and song. Her support means the world to him as does her heart and he couldn't have been more obvious in how he feels about her. Chloe is clearly the one letting her fears hold her back as she doesn't think she's good enough for Noah or able to fit in to this new world he's found himself in.

She's also scared of losing a friendship that she's become comfortable with and depends on. While I can understand her fears at first, it soon becomes apparent how good they could be and it became annoying for her to continue holding back. Their connection crackled from page one. As they got older the sexual tension oozed off the pages and engulfed me in a sensual haze that kept me rooting for them and their HEA.

Though the themes of this story seem familiar, Ms. Wicks has brought surprising depth and emotional intensity to banter that's witty and characters that are immensely likable. There's a breath of fresh air to this story that kept me engrossed in the story and its to-die-for hero while keeping me on edge courtesy of a self-doubting heroine.

This is my first book by Ms. Wicks but won't be my last as there's great promise in this first book in her Starstruck series and I'm greatly anticipating the next installment as will other fans of rock star stories!

My rating for this is a B+

NOTE: This is a re-posting of an author interview first posted on Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess

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The Witch Trials of the Netherlands: The Darkest Chapter Nobody Talks About

Becky Wicks — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone knows about Salem. Twenty people dead, mass hysteria, Arthur Miller wrote a play about it, and now it's a Halloween tourist trap. But while America was hanging witches in 1692, the Netherlands had already been burning them for over two hundred years.... and almost nobody outside of Dutch history nerds knows about it.

Let's change that shall we?

The Numbers — Between 164 and 300 people were executed for witchcraft in the Netherlands, depending on which borders you use. The overwhelming majority were women. They were strangled, burned at the stake, or died under torture before they ever saw a verdict. The first recorded death sentence for sorcery in Dutch history came in 1472... more than two centuries before Salem even existed.

The Roermond Trials of 1613 — The largest and most brutal witch trial in Dutch history. In the span of roughly a month, 64 people were tortured and burned alive in and around Roermond. Confessions were extracted through torture, and victims were forced to name accomplices; which meant every confession created new arrests. A 12-year-old girl was among those taken into custody after she was caught doing magic tricks on the street (quick, put your wand away Hilde!)

The Water Test — In the town of Oudewater, accused witches were weighed on a giant scale. The logic.... well... witches had no soul of course, so they'd weigh less than a normal person. The Oudewater scale was famously not rigged, which meant nobody there was ever convicted. You can still visit the Heksenwaag (Witch Weighing House) today and get an official certificate confirming you're not a witch.

Ahead of Their Time — Here's the twist... the Netherlands stopped executing witches earlier than any other country in Europe. In 1593, the High Court overturned a death sentence for witchcraft, setting a legal precedent. Province by province, the death penalty for sorcery was effectively abolished by 1610. Dutch jurists insisted on actual evidence and due process... radical concepts at the time. The rest of Europe was still burning people for another century.

The Last Witch — Entgen Luijten, accused in 1674 in Limbricht, is widely considered the last person prosecuted and killed as a witch in what is now the Netherlands. But belief in witchcraft lingered far longer. As late as 1823, a woman voluntarily underwent the water ordeal to prove her innocence to suspicious neighbors.

The Dutch witch trials are a reminder that magic, fear, and power have always been tangled together... and that the line between healer and heretic was dangerously thin. This same tension lives at the heart of the Amsterdamaged series, where magic is real, old grudges run deep, and not everyone who wields power uses it for good.

Step into a world where the witches survived. Start the Amsterdamaged series on Kindle Unlimited!

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7 Shapeshifters That Have Been Haunting Europe for Thousands of Years (And They're Not All Werewolves)

Becky Wicks — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

You think shapeshifters started with Twilight? Absolutely not, my friend! Humans have been telling stories about people who turn into animals... or animals who turn into people... since before we had a written language to argue about it. Every corner of Europe has its own version, and some of them are way darker than anything Hollywood ever came up with.

Here are seven shapeshifter traditions from across European folklore that prove this obsession runs deep.

1. Werewolves (Everywhere, honestly) — Almost every European culture has a werewolf myth. The ancient Greeks had King Lycaon, turned into a wolf by Zeus as punishment. Medieval France had so many werewolf trials they had a specific legal term for it: loup-garou. Germany, Scandinavia, the Balkans... everyone agreed that some people turned into wolves. They just couldn't agree on why.

2. Berserkers (Scandinavia) — Norse warriors who channeled the spirits of bears and wolves in battle, flying into a trance-like fury that made them nearly unstoppable. The word "berserk" literally comes from ber serkr — bear shirt. Were they shapeshifters or just terrifyingly good fighters? The sagas leave that line deliberately blurry.

3. Selkies (Scotland & Ireland) — Seals who shed their skins to walk on land as breathtakingly beautiful humans. If you steal a selkie's skin, they're bound to you... but they'll never stop longing for the sea. Every version of this myth ends in heartbreak. Every single one.

4. The Benandanti (Italy) — In 16th-century Friuli, a group of people claimed their spirits left their bodies at night to fight witches in the form of animals, protecting the harvest. The Church was not amused and eventually rebranded them as heretics. Imagine getting arrested for astral-projecting into a wolf to do community service!

5. Volkodlak (The Balkans) — A Slavic shapeshifter tradition that blurs the line between werewolf and vampire. In Serbian and Croatian folklore, a volkodlak could be either... or both. Some stories say that a werewolf who dies becomes a vampire. Because apparently one curse wasn't enough.

6. Weerwolven (The Netherlands) — The Dutch have their own werewolf tradition centered in Limburg, where shapeshifters terrorized the countryside for centuries. One legendary tale even links a local magistrate to secret nocturnal transformations. Dutch werewolves tend to be less "noble beast" and more "your neighbor has a really alarming secret."

7. Púca (Ireland) — A shapeshifter that can take the form of a horse, goat, dog, or human. Sometimes helpful, sometimes terrifying, always unpredictable. The púca might give you a wild ride through the countryside or whisper prophecies in your ear.... you won't know which until you've already said yes.

What all these myths have in common is the idea that the boundary between human and animal is thinner than we think... and that some people walk both sides of that line. It's the same tension that drives every great shifter romance: the pull between the civilized self and something older, wilder, and harder to control.

That's exactly the world of the Amsterdamaged series — Dutch shifters, old magic, and a city with a deep, dark wild side that's always one heartbeat away. Start reading today.

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Fated Mated Forbidden: A Sneak Peek

Becky Wicks — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The bait episode drops at 6 AM and by noon, the world is on fire. 3.2 million downloads in six hours and it’s topping every major podcast chart in Europe, trending on social media in fourteen countries. I've been watching the numbers climb from Sofie's kitchen table since sunrise, and even I, who helped to plan this whole fucking thing, can feel the dread sluicing through my insides at the scale of it.

She's stopped looking at her phone. I told her to stop at two hundred unread messages. It's sitting on top of the fridge where she can't reach it without a chair, which she tells me is patronizing but I did anyway, because the alternative was watching her spiral while broadcasters from Norway called at 7:15 AM and she forgot her own name.

In fairness, my mouth was on her at the time. It can’t seem to stay off her. I think the sex is our way of coping. We don’t have to talk when we’re fucking, we just let our bodies express what we still can’t say. I more or less admitted how she makes me feel, on the rooftop. She bewitches me, and it terrifies me, and I hate it, but it’s something I must accept because I’m also in love with her.

I can’t seem to say I love her. Not out loud. Not yet. It feels too dangerous.

If this goes wrong, and something happens, and I lose her… I will lose the only thing I’ve ever loved this much. And if I don’t name it love, then I can’t lose it.

It’s fucked up, I know. But so am I.

—Lars

COMING SOON!

Read the first two now.

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10 Friends-to-Lovers Books That Made Me Want to Jump on My Best Male Friend

Becky Wicks — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If there's one trope I will defend until my dying breath, it's friends to lovers. There's something outstandingly sexy about two people who already know each other's worst habits, dodgiest playlists, and deepest secrets — and then realize they've actually been in love the whole time. The slow burn. The pining. The "oh no, when did my best friend get HOT?" moment. I live for it.

Here are ten books that nail this trope so magically you might start eyeing up your best male mate as dating potential (I said might). Grab your TBR list and a large glass of wine.

1. Funny Story by Emily Henry

Avg Rating: 4.2/5

Two people thrown together after their exes leave them for each other? What starts as a reluctant living arrangement turns into a friendship neither expected — and then something much more. Witty, warm, and full of longing.

Buy on Amazon

2. In Your Dreams by Stephanie Archer

Avg Rating: 3.9/5

A woman must find a wife for a grumpy guy in exchange for debt forgiveness, but as they renovate an inn and practice their dating skills, they're soon in a spicy friends-with-benefits romance. Archer writes chemistry that practically crackles off the page. This slow burn will test your patience — in the best way.

Buy on Amazon

3. Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely

Avg Rating: 3.7/5

Childhood best friends Joni and Ren have a tradition of being each other's wedding plus-ones — until one night ruins everything. Years later, they're forced back together at a family wedding. The tension is exquisite.

Buy on Amazon

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

Avg Rating: 4.0/5

Two rival teachers who've been pushing each other's buttons for a decade end up as neighbours. Their decade-long antagonism slowly melts into friendship and then something deeper. Funny, emotional, and full of fantastic banter.

Buy on Amazon

5. Before He Was Famous by Becky Wicks

Avg Rating: 3.7/5

OK, yes, this one's mine — but hear me out! Chloe and her best friend Noah have always been inseparable, but when Noah becomes a rock star, everything changes. It's messy, emotional, and captures that terrifying moment when you realise your best friend might just be the love of your life. A slow-burn friends-to-lovers rockstar romance with all the feels.

Buy on Amazon

6. Flawless by Elsie Silver

Avg Rating: 4.0/5

A PR princess assigned to protect the career of scandalous cowboy Rhett Eaton has her work cut out for her. As they spend more time together, the lines between duty, friendship, and desire blur completely. This is a slow-burn romance that is utterly unputdownable!

Buy on Amazon

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Avg Rating: 3.7/5

A diver and a swimmer enter a friends-with-benefits arrangement in the lead-up to the Olympics, but feelings have a pesky way of ignoring boundaries. Hazelwood brings her signature nerdy charm to the sports romance world.

Buy on Amazon

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

Avg Rating: 3.8/5

Two best friends who live together agree to a marriage of convenience — one needs immigration protection, the other wants to make an ex jealous. The fake-dating-meets-friends-to-lovers combo is irresistible, and Reyes layers it with real emotional depth.

Buy on Amazon

Out of Bounds by Laura Carter

Avg Rating: 4.1/5

Single mum Annie has sworn off football players, but when her brother's best friend Tanner offers to teach her to drive, their friendship takes an unexpected turn. A warm, spicy friends-to-lovers sports romance set in cowboy country.

Buy on Amazon

10. Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt

Avg Rating: 4.0/5

A stand-up comedian and her best friend/opening act agree to a fake relationship for publicity — but when the act starts feeling very real, both have to confront what they've been hiding. Laugh-out-loud funny with genuine emotional punch.

Buy on Amazon

There you have it — ten books guaranteed to make you fall in love with the friends-to-lovers trope all over again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a TBR pile that isn't going to read itself.

Happy reading, lovelies!

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Amsterdam After Dark: A Paranormal Walking Tour You'll Never Forget

Becky Wicks — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It's 11 PM. The tourists have gone back to their hotels. The canal water is black and still. And if you know where to look, Amsterdam's other residents are just waking up.

This isn't your average walking tour. Allow me to reimagine seven real Amsterdam locations through a supernatural lens.... because honestly, some of these places are already halfway there.

Stop 1: Oude Kerk (The Old Church) — Amsterdam's oldest building, surrounded by the Red Light District. By day it's a historic church. By night? The perfect front for a vampire elder's council. Those red-lit windows on every side aren't selling what you think — they're wards, keeping something ancient locked beneath the church floor.

Stop 2: The Canals at Reguliersgracht — Stand on the bridge and you can see seven canal bridges lined up in a perfect row. Locals call it one of Amsterdam's prettiest views. But what if each bridge marks a ley line? And what if, at exactly midnight, the water between them goes completely still — because something underneath is listening?

Stop 3: Vondelpark — By day, joggers and picnickers. After dark, the park empties fast. Too fast. Maybe that's because the old trees at the center are a gathering point for shifters running under the cover of fog. The park's iron fences aren't decorative. They're a boundary line — and crossing it after hours means you've entered their territory.

Stop 4: De Waag at Nieuwmarkt — A 15th-century weigh house that once hosted witch trials. Now it's a candlelit restaurant. But what if the witches were real, and the trials were a cover-up run by a rival coven? The building still hums with residual magic. Order the wine. Don't touch the salt.

Stop 5: The Narrow Houses of the Jordaan — Amsterdam's houses lean forward at angles that shouldn't be structurally possible. The official explanation is beam hoists and settling foundations. The unofficial explanation? Glamour spells. Some of those houses are far bigger on the inside than they appear — and a few don't exist at all unless you have the Sight.

Stop 6: Amstel 216 — The canal house where a former mayor painted blood sigils on the walls in the 1690s. They've never been removed. Not because they can't be — but because they're holding something in. Walk past it at night if you want. Just don't stop.

Stop 7: Centraal Station — Built on three artificial islands and 8,687 wooden piles driven into the old harbor floor. The official reason? Soft ground. But what better way to seal a gateway between worlds than to drive nearly nine thousand stakes into it and build a fortress on top?

Amsterdam isn't just beautiful after dark. It's alive — and not everything breathing along those canals is human.

Ready to meet what's hiding in the city? The Amsterdamaged series takes you deep inside Amsterdam's supernatural underworld. Grab it if you're planning a trip and get prepared!

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7 Haunted Places in Amsterdam That Will Keep You Looking Behind You

Becky Wicks — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Amsterdam looks like a postcard even when it's miserable outside, and I know this because I live here! Gabled canal houses, twinkling lights on the water, cyclists who somehow never crash into each other. It's all stupidly charming...

...until you learn that the blood of executed prisoners used to drain down one of its streets, a former mayor painted his house in satanic symbols using his own blood, and a jealous sister's ghost has been screaming in an alley since the 1700s.

Welcome to haunted Amsterdam. Leave the tulips at the door.

1. Bloedstraat (Blood Street) — This narrow lane connects Nieuwmarkt to one of the city's oldest canals. Its name comes from exactly what you think: blood from public executions flowing downhill toward the water. It was also the site of the Duke of Alba's Blood Council in the 1500s, where accused heretics were sentenced to death. Locals say some of them never left.

2. Spooksteeg (Ghost Alley) — Tucked in the Red Light District, this is home to Amsterdam's most famous ghost. Helena murdered her sister Dina out of jealousy over a sailor, then confessed on her deathbed. Her husband cursed her soul to wander forever. A hundred years later, her screams were first reported... and people still hear them today.

3. Dam Square — Tourists snap selfies here all day. They don't know it was the site of mass executions during the Spanish Inquisition, including the burning of accused witches (BUT NOW YOU DO!) The Amsterdam Dungeon nearby sits on a former 16th-century cemetery and leans hard into this history.

4. De Waag (The Weigh House) — This gorgeous 15th-century building at Nieuwmarkt is now a restaurant. It was also where Amsterdam's witch trials took place. Women were tortured, tried, and executed inside. Diners have reported cold spots, strange sounds, and the unsettling feeling of being watched while eating their bitterballen.

5. Amstel 216 — In the 1690s, former Amsterdam mayor Coenraad van Beuningen went mad inside this canal house and painted occult symbols on the walls in his own blood. The stains have never been fully removed despite centuries of attempts. The house is private, but you can see the facade from the street... preferably in daylight.

6. The Spinhuis (Now a Hotel) — Once a women's penitentiary where inmates were forced to sew garments. A priest fell in love with one of the women, couldn't act on it, and took his own life. His ghost reportedly haunts one specific hotel room... and some of the staff still refuse to enter it alone.

7. The Schreierstoren (Weeping Tower) — Built into the old city wall, this tower is named for the women who wept here as they watched their husbands' ships sail away. One woman, Trijn Jacobs, waited for her sailor who sadly never returned. Her cries are said to echo through the tower on quiet nights.

Amsterdam's canals might be beautiful, but as we now know, they're a conduit for centuries of unfinished business. And that eerie energy is exactly what fuels the Amsterdamaged series. Think dark magic, shifters, and old secrets hiding in plain sight along the water.

Thinking about a trip to Amsterdam? Prepare yourself properly and start the Amsterdamaged series pronto.

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So You Want to Know How to Write for Mills & Boon? Here's What I've Learned

Becky Wicks — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it (ironic, given I write romance for a living). Writing for Mills & Boon is one of the most rewarding and fun things I've ever done, and I've written over 20 of them... but doing it does come with rules. A lot of rules. Good rules, don't worry.

The rules that come with learning how to write for Harlequin Mills & Boon might actually make you a better writer. I know they did me!

So grab a coffee, settle in, and let me share what I wish someone had told me from the start.

Keep It Tight — 50,000 Words Is Your Playground

Harlequin Mills & Boon novels are short, punchy, and paced like a heartbeat. You've got around 50,000 words to tell a complete love story, which means every single chapter needs to earn its place. No fillers allowed, folks! And no meandering subplots that go nowhere, thank you very much. Every chapter should directly involve your main characters and push their emotional arcs forward. If a scene doesn't develop the romance or deepen the conflict, it's dead weight. Cut it.

Research Smart, Not Deep

Speaking of research... especially if you're aiming to write for the Medical line like me... you need to know enough to be convincing, but you're not writing a textbook here. Get the basics right, okay? Understand the procedures, the terminology, the hospital hierarchy. But don't drown your reader in clinical details. The operation, scan, even hospital staff party is the backdrop; the romance is the story. A reader should feel the tension of a medical emergency without needing a degree to follow along.

No Flashbacks, Please

This one's simple. Mills & Boon editors are not fans of flashbacks, and honestly? Neither am I. They stall momentum. Instead of pulling readers out of the present to revisit the past, weave backstory in through dialogue, internal thought and emotional reaction. Keep the story moving forward, always.

Now It's Your Turn

If you've been sitting on a romance idea... like that one gorgeous story that keeps nagging at you in the shower or on your commute... maybe it's time to actually write it? Harlequin Mills & Boon is actively looking for fresh voices, and the submission process is more accessible than you might think. And no, you don't need an agent. I had an agent before writing for Mills & Boon, but now, over 20 novels later, I don't! Start with two characters, give them real problems, drop them somewhere beautiful, and let them fall in love against the odds.

The world needs more love stories. Yours could be next, and I for one would love to read it.

Happy writing!

Becky x

Check out my Mills & Boon books and all my other stories here

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Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous, Sneak Peek Inside

Becky Wicks — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Let me guess. When you say the name Noah Lockton, you see him standing with one of a hundred guitars around his neck, glistening with sweat in the glare of the stage lights.

You see him grinning, maybe on a pap shot, maybe snapped on a red carpet, smiling at you from the middle of a magazine. You see him in the spotlight; hot in more ways than one, right?

You see shouting headlines, hear the shrieks of infatuated fans, visualize the vacuous presenters buffing up his ego on all those TV channels and him batting away compliments like they’re bees. You see bulbs flashing, neon flickering, videos playing on loop everywhere. They’re in the gym, on the seatback screens of airplanes; in your Facebook sidebar when you’re messaging your friends.

You hear his music, obviously. How could you not? It’s everywhere. His voice is everywhere. You know the stats. Noah Lockton. Twenty-three. Five-foot-eleven, messy brown curls and steel-gray eyes. Pisces. You think you know him, this superstar, guitar-playing rock star.

But there are some things you don’t know about Noah Lockton.

You don’t know how proud he was that time, to have made me a cake out of Lego, mud and toothpaste. How when he was eight, he sat up in the tree house for three whole days after Prairie died. I was freaking out that if the dog fell down from heaven no one else would be as close to the sky to catch him. Noah just didn’t want anyone else to see him cry. So we sat up there together, neither of us saying a word. Just holding hands.

You don’t know how crazy he made me, teaching me guitar till my fingers bled. How we perfected the art of burping the entire first Britney Spears single together after four cans of Diet Coke and convinced a radio station to put us on air.

You don’t know how his arms felt wrapped around me when my world came crashing down; how I clung to the feeling of him inside me, filling me up; bringing me back to life again when all I could feel otherwise was numb.

You don’t know how we avoid the subject now.

When we were kids, his dad said his eyes were so shiny in all my photos because of all the stars inside them.

Noah was always going to shine.

He was always going to be mine.

But sometimes even I forget the way things were before he was famous.

Keep reading Before He Was Famous on Kindle Unlimited

PEOPLE LOVE BEFORE HE WAS FAMOUS

“WOW!!! That was FREAKIN FANTASTIC!!!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Their attraction to each other is so intense it practically jumps off each page!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book is brilliant!!! Being a TV insider I can also see the parallels between this and what really goes on - Becky’s done her research but more than that, she’s written a new adult romantic love story that will stick with you forever!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I would like to advise you to have a hanky on hand as this will bring you tears of joy, sadness, and triumph. It also includes unlimited romance and butterflies in your stomach.” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is the first time I’ve read a book by Becky Wicks and I can tell you that she is definitely added to my auto buy list of authors.” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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7 Creepy Dutch Folklore Creatures That Prove the Netherlands Is Basically Cursed

Becky Wicks — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Forget Dracula. Forget werewolves prowling the moors of England. The Netherlands... yes, the land of tulips, bicycles, and an unfairly calorific collection of mouth-watering cheese... has some of the most nightmare-worthy folklore in all of Europe. And nobody's talking about it... well, nobody except me, because I live here, and I'm obsessed.

Let's get into it.

1. Witte Wieven (White Women) — Ghostly women in filthy white gowns who live inside ancient burial mounds and lurk in the fog across Drenthe, Gelderland, and Overijssel. Sometimes they help deliver babies. Other times they lure men into the swamp and those men are never seen again. Helpful or homicidal... you won't know until it's too late (gulp).

2. Bokkenrijders (Goat Riders) — Demons who made a pact with the Devil and rode across the sky on winged goats, terrorizing the province of Limburg. In the 1700s, real criminal gangs adopted the name to scare locals into handing over money. When your brand is that terrifying, the thieves will steal it too, apparently.

3. Nekkers — Water-dwelling creatures that drag the unwary beneath the surface of rivers and canals. In a country that's famously below sea level, this one hits pretty hard. Might think twice before I take the boat out this summer.

4. Weerwolven (Werewolves) — Yes, the Dutch have their own werewolf tradition. Limburg folklore includes tales of shapeshifters who terrorized the countryside — one local legend even claims a magistrate was secretly a werewolf who hunted Bokkenrijders by night.

5. Dwaallichten (Will-o'-the-Wisps) — Flickering lights over marshes and peat bogs that lure travelers off the path. The Dutch believed they were the souls of the unbaptized dead, forever wandering.

6. Kaboutermannetjes (Gnomes) — Not the cute garden kind, hell now! These Dutch kabouters live underground, are skilled metalworkers, and will absolutely mess with you if you disrespect their territory.

7. De Zwarte Juffer (The Black Lady) — A dark, veiled figure spotted near castles and old estates. Where the Witte Wieven wear white, this one comes dressed for a funeral — possibly yours.

The Netherlands is full of fog, water, and ancient burial mounds, so it's basically a paranormal playground. And that's exactly what inspired the Amsterdamaged series!

I am all about exploring that dark magic, shifters, and supernatural danger in the pages of a paranormal romance series. Amsterdamaged is set in modern-day Amsterdam, where this bunch of old legends never really died!

Ready to meet what's hiding along the canals? Grab the Amsterdamaged series now.

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Let's be Pinterest friends

Becky Wicks — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I finally got an author account on Pinterest, and to be honest I find it all a bit overwhelming. My ADHD brain sees a lot of pretty colors and I want to click it all, which... arrrgh, I don't know... I need to just face the board!

If you have any fave boards I should follow for romance reads, let me know. And if you follow me I pinky swear I'll follow back!

Find me here on Pinterest

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A Tense Excerpt From Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous: Starstruck Series Book 1

Becky Wicks — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Chloe. Chapter 22.

I see the scar on his right shoulder from where he fell off Jack's homemade sled one winter and tumbled roly-poly style right into a rock. It's a thin, shiny white line. I resist the urge to touch it. He's undoing me, again, lying here beside me in a literal bed we made ages ago but have since refused to lie in. How does he do this?

"I guess she knows it, even if you don't," he whispers.

"I do,'"I say, and inside I'm screaming. We're not doing this; we're not. This is dangerous. But he climbed in next to me and now it's the strongest, aching urge to keep him here, to have him holding me again and to never let me go. The guilt surges through me, along with the fear.

"So, she broke up with you?" I manage.

"I guess so," he replies, scanning my cuts with his eyes.

"She really liked you, Noah,"

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm just an asshole."

I realize my hand is still in his hair and I retract it quickly. He grabs it, holds it against him. You're not an asshole I'm thinking, but for some reason I can't say it. It would be like admitting something else; like the fact that he's an asshole to every girl who likes him, but never to me.

And then I'd have to really think about why that is and that's not something I'll ever be comfortable with at all, even though his eyes are like maps and his words are like anchors and his songs are like personal messages and I love all that.

Read Before He Was Famous now on Kindle Unlimited

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Starstruck Series gets a Boxed Set, and comes to Kindle Unlimited

Becky Wicks — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Where love and fame collide! The Starstruck Series has sold thousands of copies since its first edition in 2014, and now new readers can get stuck into the boxed set. It's available now on Kindle Unlimited.

Chloe and Noah will break your heart in BEFORE HE WAS FAMOUS, as they navigate their way from best friends since childhood, into a budding romance under the spotlights of Noah's new fame. But nothing is the same, especially when Chloe's life is threatened.

Next we follow Chloe's friend Alyssa who decides that applying to a Survivor style reality TV show on a desert island is a great way to get over a break up. Little does she know, she's about to meet the brooding Joshua, who's not only her rival, but is hiding a devastating secret.

Finally, we follow Stephanie from the island into Nashville, where her dreams of stardom are quickly coming true, only for the new love of her life to threaten everything.

Let me know what you think when you're done - and I hope you enjoy the ride!

Download your three-book series now.

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10 Dark Romance Books Set in European Cities (For When You Want Some Danger With Your Passport)

Becky Wicks — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Look friends, we've all been there. We're scrolling for our next read and craving something spicy... something that makes us absolutely certain that a devastatingly attractive supernatural creature might actually be watching us from the shadows. (Oh come on, I know it's not just me!)

Well, you're in luck. Here are ten dark paranormal romances set in (or inspired by) European cities that'll wreck you in the best possible way.

1. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward — The book that launched a thousand obsessions. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series kicks off with Wrath, the last pureblooded vampire, and enough brooding intensity to power a small country. Old-world European vibes drip from every page.

2. The Amsterdamaged series by Becky Wicks (yes, me!) — Shifters. Magic. Fated mates. Modern-day Amsterdam and a prophecy to fulfil that means three brothers must all find their human mate. If you like your paranormal romance dark, gritty, and dripping with Dutch atmosphere, this is your series.

3. Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux — Demon romance with deep European folklore roots woven throughout. If you like your romance with a side of existential dread and a demon who won't take no for an answer, this one delivers. BookTok famous for a reason.

4. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost — Half-vampire Cat meets full-vampire Bones. Sharp dialogue, British charm, and fight scenes that double as foreplay. A fan favorite for good reason.

5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers — Set in medieval Brittany, France. Assassin nuns serving the god of Death. Yes, you read that correctly. It's as cool as it sounds.

6. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews — Kate Daniels is a mercenary cleaning up supernatural messes in a magic-ravaged world. The Eastern European mythology running through this series is chef's kiss.

7. Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross (Stay a Spell series) — Six sister witches in New Orleans, each paired with a different supernatural love interest — vampires, werewolves, grim reapers. It's basically Charmed if the Halliwell sisters had way worse taste in men and zero chill. The European magic system running through the worldbuilding gives it old-world flavor.

8. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop — The Black Jewels trilogy opens in a dark kingdom waiting for the birth of a prophesied Witch Queen more powerful than the High Lord of Hell himself. The setting is a richly built fantasy world with heavy Gothic European energy. Fair warning: this one splits readers right down the middle — people either devour it or throw it across the room. Only one way to find out which camp you're in.

9. Blood Laws by Lexi C. Foss — The Immortal Curse series drops you into a world of rival immortal factions, forbidden attraction, and enough political scheming to make the EU Parliament look boring. Think old-money European vampires with centuries of grudges and one very inconvenient romance.

10. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole — A Valkyrie and a Lykae king collide in a story that tears through Paris and Scotland. Cole's Immortals After Dark series is unhinged in the best way. Enemies-to-lovers with actual claws.

There you have it... ten books guaranteed to ruin your sleep schedule and make you side-eye every shadowy alleyway on your next European vacation.

But if you're ready for something truly different — a dark paranormal romance set in a city most authors haven't touched — check out the Amsterdamaged series. The Van der Meer brothers are waiting to Amsterdamage you.

Grab Book 1 and find out what's lurking along the canals.

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Meet Fantastic Fantasy Queen, Sheri-Lynn Marean

Becky Wicks — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Since joining TikTok (I know, it took me way too long!) I've met some fantastic authors from all over the world, so let me introduce you to one of them right now! Sheri-Lynn Marean is the author of some incredible fantasy novels, and check out that gorgeous cover on her latest, Dracone's Awakening! Let's chat...

Hi Sheri! Tell us where you live, and a fun fact about yourself that might surprise people.

I live in British Columbia Canada, and I’ve been an artist since age twelve. I’ve sold many original pieces of art along with limited edition prints. Around six or so years ago, I began to learn photoshop, and started creating my own book covers. Once I felt I knew enough about what each genre requires for cover, what colors and fonts, where to get licenced stock, I opened an author cover business to help supplement my writing career. It’s since taken off, so now I do both covers and write. I love creating shiny pretties and telling unforgettable stories. Though I no longer draw with pencil and create physical art, I still do the occasional piece when it pertains to my books and characters. (I have been working on black and white pencil art to go with my current Kickstarter. :) )

What first sparked your love for romantic fantasy worlds, and how did that evolve into writing your own fantastical stories?

Sherrilyn Kenyon and her amazing books got me hooked on romance in the fantasy and paranormal worlds. I love her massive worlds, her large cast of characters and how each couple gets their happy ending. There are other authors who continued that love, like JR Ward, Nalini Singh, Lara Adrian, Larissa Ione, along with some urban fantasy authors; Faith Hunter, Patrica Briggs just to mention a few. I’ve also always loved stories with mystery and suspense, psychological thrillers, so I love to combine it all with magic, mystical beings and other worlds. One of my beta readers; Sharon Richmond, who’s been with me for a very long time paid me a huge compliment when she said: "Sheri's writing is like reading multiple authors lol, take Ann Rice, Dean Koontz, James Patterson and a few others and putT them all together as one mind."

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, ‘hey, I wanna keep on doing this?!

Dracones Awakening is the first book I published, and it took me eight years from start to finish, with a bunch of years where nothing happened as my kids were small and there wasn’t any time to focus on it. Then when I got back into it, I ended up doing some re-writes. It originally started off as a young adult story in first person, but then I changed it to Paranormal Romance, and then re-wrote it again in third person. When I started to get reviews and readers that wanted more, that quickly joined my street team and my reader group, I realized that this is what I was meant to do.

What themes or messages do you hope readers carry with them after finishing one of your novels (in particular your newest?)

I believe and think/hope my stories convey that being different is okay. It’s life and we should be more accepting of others. Also, everyone deserves love, and finding that love is not impossible, nor does it have to be what’s expected. The world would be a much better place if people were more accepting of others. In my books, I used different races of beings with characters who have abilities, one of which is empathy. It allows my character to see what’s underneath the facade people put up, often as a shield to prevent being hurt. And, while I’m not very romantic in real life, or don’t feel like I am, lol, I seem driven by a desire for everyone to triumph over adversity and discover their soulmate. Even when watching TV, I’m matchmaking, lol!

Your worlds are rich with mythology and lore—what draws you to the supernatural, and do you believe there’s truth to any of the legends?

I find it hard to believe that there’s all this mythology and lore without there being some sort of truth behind it. What that is, I’ve no idea. A lot of it sounds amazing, and it would be cool if there was a supernatural world hiding out there. I feel like I’d want to be a part of it, but honestly, the reality would probably be horrific, lol. I’m just drawn to the idea of magic, mystical beings and having unique abilities. I like to imagine how that world would look, as there’s be the heroes, the morally grey and the evil villains.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing fantasy?

That I can? Lol. I never thought I’d be an author, never mind published… I used to work in sales door to door. I spend most of my life working with horses, some of those years at the racetrack in Alberta and Ontario, or doing other physical work.

If you could spend a day in one of your fictional worlds, where would you go and who would you spend it with?

I did an interview with one of my characters from Dracones Awakening a while back, and went to their home up on the mountain north of Spokane Washington. I loved the idea of getting to meet everyone I wrote about, and see how they were doing. But I’d also love to have Treya from my Dragon Assassin book take me on a tour teleporting from realm to realm to see them all, so it would be a toss up between going back to the mountain and seeing all my 52 realms.

What drives you to keep creating, even on the tough days?

I have so many stories stuck in my head that I have to get out, and my characters are all so unique and some are fun, some tough, some broody, they deserve to have their stories told.

Tell us about your newest release and how you came to write it.

The last book I released was in 2024 and it’s a MM story called Beat of my Heart, with 2 characters from my Dracones Cursed & Hunted series. I’ve known about Toren since the beginning, and kept trying to pair him with a female. His destiny was to mate the youngest daughter of mating age of the Raizarch wolf pack, in order to free them. However, no matter how I tried, who I tried pairing him with it didn’t work. I started his story a few times, and it wasn’t going anywhere. Then he basically told me who he loved, and it was a male wolf who joined their pack briefly. Yet how could he forsake helping the 1000 wolves who’d been trapped for so long under a tyrant’s rule?

What’s next for you and your readers?

I currently have a Kickstarter up for pre-launch. And as for writing, I’m working on the 10th book in my Cursed & Hunted series (and the 2nd book in my Enforcement for Preternatural Protection) called Splintered Shadows. I have the whole story plotted out and in my head, playing like a TV show, so will hopefully get it out soon. I also have a million other stories I want to write, one being something that I dreamed. The details of it all still amaze me. I dreamed it last year after my dad passed away when I was sleeping a lot.

It was a complete romance story, again, like a tv show, only I could feel what they felt. It’s a rejected mate, kind of like a fairy tale story. It was in full color, with the characters' names, and I have started it. I don’t know if I’ll find a way to set it within my 52 realms world, or if it will be a standalone.

We can't wait to find out, and read more Sheri-Lynn, thanks for taking part in this interview! Check out Dracones Awakening right now.

Link up with Sheri-Lynn on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. And keep up to date with all her news via her newsletter, and on her Amazon author page.

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Dog Shows, Dangerous Monsters, and the Unstoppable Urge to Write: Meet the Author Behind Agent Zero!

Becky Wicks — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

What do Westminster dog shows, small-town libraries, and hot vampires in basement apartments have in common? No, this isn’t the beginning of an oddly specific joke—it’s a glimpse into the wild world of Janet Walden West—the brilliant brain behind the Region Two urban fantasy series.

Hi Janet! Tell us where you live, and a fun fact about yourself that might surprise people.

I live in East Tennessee in a rural area. Like, you are driving twenty-five minutes to find a Starbucks. As far as surprises, I’m one of those weird dog show chicks you see on TV every Thanksgiving, and for two nights when Westminster is televised. I’ve been involved in shows since I was a kid in the single digits, and several scholarships from kennel clubs and junior showmanship wins helped pay for college.

What first sparked your love for romantic fantasy worlds, and how did that evolve into writing your own fantastical stories?

I fell into urban fantasy accidentally. As a teen, I ran through all of my small local library’s fantasy, and reluctantly picked up a book from a favorite fantasy writer who also did UF. And I was hooked.

Once I picked up the pen (like, literally. I always do outlines Old Skool with pen and paper), I began looking for classes and groups. Romance Writers of America hadn’t imploded yet, and chapters routinely ran contests, which had an educational component. Judges were published professionals who were required to leave comments on all entries, and I entered every one I could find. I quickly learned A) I wasn’t writing romance, and B) I really wanted to.

For me, urban fantasy has always had romantic threads running through even the most hardboiled plots—Rachel and Trent in Kim Harrison’s Hollows, Ilona Andrew’s Kate and Curran, Harry Dresden and…ok, Harry is kind of a himbo, so maybe skip him!

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, ‘hey, I wanna keep on doing this?!

I wrote scenes and shorts, influenced by whatever I was reading or watching at the time—basically, fan fic, except I didn’t know fan fic existed. When I pushed through with my first original-ish plot and cast of characters and finished it? Typing the end was a total high, and I have been chasing it ever since.

What themes or messages do you hope readers carry with them after finishing one of your novels (in particular, your newest?)

My focus currently is on the Region Two series, Agent of Fate being the newest. Even though each book features a different couple, they are all fighting the same Big Bad and personal demons. Bu no matter how beat up the heroes get and how dire the situation, there’s always hope and those ride-or-die friends they make along the way will always have their backs.

Do any of your characters reflect parts of yourself, or maybe people you’ve known in real life?

I don’t purposely create characters that are simulacrums of me (or like the way better fantasy version). I don’t think its possible to create and not have part of the creator in the story, though. I also don’t insert people from IRL. Although my sister is positive every ginger heroine is definitely her.

Your worlds are rich with mythology and lore—what draws you to the supernatural, and do you believe there’s truth to any of the legends?

Playing with the supernatural and magic opens up sooo many possibilities with characters and storylines. It also helps right a lot of wrongs that don’t have easy fixes in our world. I would LOVE to believe that legends and magic are real, and there’s an Amazon just behind that ridge, or a hot, heroic vampire renting the basement apartment next door.

If you could spend a day in one of your fictional worlds, where would you go and who would you spend it with?

Definitely with the Region Two crew, specifically with Vee’s team. Those guys celebrate taking out murderous monsters with some banger parties.

What do you hope new readers feel when they open one of your books for the first time?

My greatest dream is that people are sucked into the world, and feel like the characters are new friends, not just words on a page.

What drives you to keep creating, even on the tough days?

It's kind of a joke, but kind of pure truth at the same time—I can’t not write Getting the words down is the only way to shut up the demanding characters in my head.

Tell us about your newest release and how you came to write it.

Agent of Fate is the latest release. Neve, a too-fearless investigative journalist ends up stumbling on our team of guardians and hunters. The biggest villain isn’t necessarily the vampire cabal or the new threats they’ve cooked up in their labs. Neve’s struggle with doing her duty and exposing the truth, versus the fact that real, innocent people will suffer, maybe in ways she never expected, feels very timely given the state of the world.

You will have to read Agent Zero first!

What’s next for you and your readers?

With a release later this summer, and two more over the winter, the Region Two series will be complete. That first story I completed as a Baby Writer? Its undergoing a massive overhaul, and y’all get to meet some Southern vampires and the Sumerian goddess avatar sent to eradicate them.

We can't wait to read more, Janet, thanks for taking part in this interview.

Check out Agent Zero right now.

Link up with Janet on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. And keep up to date with all her news via her newsletter, and on her Amazon author page.

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Amsterdamaged Book 3, FATED MATED FORBIDDEN, coming soon!

Becky Wicks — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Super excited to launch this little blue baby out into the big bad shifter world! I'm currently putting the last touches to the edits, but Lars's story is almost ready to share.

We were introduced to Lars's new mystery woman in book 2, FATED MATED CURSED, and she's not what she seems, which means he's truly infatuated. But there's a prophecy; he must mate with a human. Even if the one human he's ever wanted this much is a threat to everything he ever stood for.

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Becky Wicks | Updates

A Fan's Review of Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous

The Witch Trials of the Netherlands: The Darkest Chapter Nobody Talks About

7 Shapeshifters That Have Been Haunting Europe for Thousands of Years (And They're Not All Werewolves)

Fated Mated Forbidden: A Sneak Peek

10 Friends-to-Lovers Books That Made Me Want to Jump on My Best Male Friend

Amsterdam After Dark: A Paranormal Walking Tour You'll Never Forget

7 Haunted Places in Amsterdam That Will Keep You Looking Behind You

So You Want to Know How to Write for Mills & Boon? Here's What I've Learned

Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous, Sneak Peek Inside

7 Creepy Dutch Folklore Creatures That Prove the Netherlands Is Basically Cursed

Let's be Pinterest friends

A Tense Excerpt From Rockstar Romance, Before He Was Famous: Starstruck Series Book 1

Starstruck Series gets a Boxed Set, and comes to Kindle Unlimited

10 Dark Romance Books Set in European Cities (For When You Want Some Danger With Your Passport)

Meet Fantastic Fantasy Queen, Sheri-Lynn Marean

Dog Shows, Dangerous Monsters, and the Unstoppable Urge to Write: Meet the Author Behind Agent Zero﻿!

Amsterdamaged Book 3, FATED MATED FORBIDDEN, coming soon!

Dog Shows, Dangerous Monsters, and the Unstoppable Urge to Write: Meet the Author Behind Agent Zero!