The innocent girl I watched from the shadows grew into a tempting goddess who deserved better than my darkness.
One look. One touch. One mistake.
She didn’t just see me… she saw through me.
Revealing my identity was a price I wasn’t willing to pay.
But I was wrong.
She bought me with her touch.
I walked away once, and if I know what’s good for me, I’ll do it again.
But my best intentions are about to be obliterated…
When I find her in the one place she shouldn’t be.
Covering for her means risking the wrath of her family.
The longer I’m forced to keep this secret, the less I care about what it could cost me.
And you know what they say about bad behaviour?
The same thing as good deeds…
They shouldn’t go unpunished.
Dear reader,
Dark Knight is the first book in Calli and Batman’s story, and the next trilogy in the Knight’s Ridge Empire series. If you like your alphas dark and your romance full of angst, then you’re in the right place!
Begin the series for FREE with Dark Halloween Knight – you can grab it here!
Meet Tracy Lorraine
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author.
Tracy has recently-ish turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up. Molly and Ryan were born and the rest is history, as they say!
From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Jennifer Bernard comes a steamy, single dad, small town romance set in fan-favorite Lost Harbor, Alaska with a free-spirited heroine and a grumpy hero who can’t stay away.
Ice cream goddess and perennial life of the party, Trixie Tran lives life large, from her eclectic wardrobe to her offbeat perspective on, well…everything. No one knows her carefully crafted persona evolved after one life-changing summer during her teens, when a need to belong led to falling for Chase Owens, who betrayed her trust. Now, years later, Mr. Wrong has come to her tiny town of Lost Harbor…and he’s not leaving until Trixie gives him what he wants.
With his young daughter in tow, rescue trainer Mac Brindisi is in Alaska to fulfill a short-term contract. Romance isn’t part of the plan. He’s also built a career—literally—out of shutting people out of his life. Despite that fact, he’d have to be dead inside not to notice the sexy siren who owns the local ice cream shop. When some rich jerk from her past sails into town, all his protective instincts are activated…and then some.
Turns out Chase is no ordinary rich jerk. Dealing with him will take all of Mac’s skills…as well as courage Trixie didn’t know she had. Can she afford to put her trust in a man again? Or is Mac just another smitten-in-summer mistake waiting to happen?
Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea.
If you’d like to know when Jennifer’s next book comes out, visit her website at www.JenniferBernard.net to sign up for her mailing list.
Mansplainer by Avery Flynn is now live! As the only Beckett cousin who is still unattached, I’m a shoo-in to win the bet with my cousins to be the last man blissfully not in love by Christmas. Of course, I know they’re still going to make me follow the rules of our bet and go on six dates with the same woman—but I’ve figured out a way out of that too. I’m getting married. Is it love? Not even close. Chelle Finch needs a temporary husband and I need to win this bet. We agree to put a ring on it knowing that in six months this marriage of convenience will end in divorce. Except, somehow dating my wife has me realizing that I don’t ever want to take this ring off if it means losing her.
What does the guy who can talk his way out of anything have to do to sweet talk his temporary wife into forever?
https://bit.ly/3Ojaver Meet Avery Flynn When Avery Flynn isn’t writing about alpha heroes and the women who tame them, she is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She has three slightly wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband, and has a slight shoe addiction. Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her on Twitter, like her on her Facebook page, or friend her on her Facebook profile. Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the internet, she’ll be your best friend for life. Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com. She’d love to hear from you.
I lean back against his chest while I grind against him. “Tell me how it feels for you.”
His lips fall to my ear, and he whispers, “Familiar.”
The instant the word is out of his mouth, my heart thumps chaotically against my ribcage because I know exactly why he would say that.
“Tell me you remember that night after senior prom.” His words are so soft and airy, they tickle my neck and linger there for a long beat before he speaks again. “We were all camping out in the woods, and you and I had decided to share our own tent.”
Heat billows through my body at the memory. “Everyone was having the loudest sex. We were trying not to laugh,” I add.
“You were trying not to laugh,” he says.
“That’s right.” My cheeks heat. “Because I was muffling you.”
“So I started tickling you.”
“And we started wrestling.”
My skin is scorching, thanks to the very vivid memory. I remember that night well, not because of what happened between us in that tent but because Jami was the only one who had asked me to our senior prom. Heartbroken, I told Jami I wasn’t going, and that was when he asked me. It ended up being one of the best nights of my life.
“You were wearing that sexy little red tube dress.” His tone becomes raspy with his words.
“You had stripped down to your boxer briefs.”
His nose grazes my cheek. “And you had a— what’d you call it again?”
“A wardrobe malfunction.”
He chuckles with his next groan. “Yeah, that’s it. Your tits came bouncing out, and I couldn’t stop staring.”
There’s a whirring in my chest as I sneak a look at him. “And I let you.” He sighs as his eyes flutter closed then back open. “I wanted you to look. I wanted you to do more than look.”
My mind fogs as I continue to move for Jami while imagining myself right back in that tent with him. Back when there was still the possibility of something more.
I still remember the shock that lit up his face when my tube top slipped down. He had my hands pinned behind my head and his knees between my thighs when it happened. Just like that, my bare breasts and hard nipples were the focus of his attention.
He looked so hungry sitting there, his tongue sliding around his lips so slowly I thought I might die if he didn’t kiss me. But it wasn’t my lips he leaned down to kiss.
When he lowered his head, the movement was so still that I knew it was on purpose. He was asking for permission without actually saying the words. I had plenty of time to push him away, to tell him no, to pull my top back up before we laughed it off like it never happened.
I swear, a chorus erupted in a rendition of Hallelujah when his mouth finally touched down. A warm breeze from his heavy breathing hit my nipple first, creating an ache between my thighs. His lips grazed me next, causing my entire body to shiver beneath him. But when he took my nipple into his mouth, sucked, and started flicking it with his tongue, my need for relief was so intense that all I could do was work my hips to rub against him.
Coming back to the present, I still feel like I’m floating somewhere in between.
“You’re so big for me,” I croak out to him. “Just like you were in that tent.”
He lets out a desperate breath in my ear. “You didn’t believe me when I told you to keep grinding on my cock until you came.”
“So I told you I wanted to test your theory. You gripped my waist and moved with me.”
“I was hitting you as deep as I could, but our underwear was in the way.”
He’s right. Neither of us had dared remove another layer. We were both virgins, and still just friends despite all the time we spent together and the number of intimate moments we had shared in the past. It had been an unspoken agreement that we didn’t cross that line even though we were steadily approaching the point of no return.
“You flipped us so I could ride you. Remember that?” I use that opportunity to flip myself around so we’re face to face. I continue my rocking, the friction sparking my core. “It felt so good when I finally came. Like fireworks were shooting off in my body.”
His mouth parts slightly. “I wanted to be inside of you so fucking bad that night.”
“I wanted that too.” I’m so lost in him, in us, in the past, that I almost forgot my mission. I was going to tease him until he was close to climax and then abandon him to teach him never to come back to my place of work again. But I don’t know if I can do that anymore. Not when these feelings I’ve kept buried for so long keep rising to the surface. “Still do.”
Pain lances across his face, my words striking him deeply. “Let me touch you, Vi. Where can I touch you?”
His words—an ice-cold bath of reality—hit me hard. This moment we’re sharing isn’t special like the one we once had together. This one is muddled with present-day confusion, painful secrets, and dark desires. I’m wearing a mask, for fuck’s sake. And we’re on camera. This isn’t real.
With my heart beating triple its normal speed, I seize all movement and slide off his lap. “Time’s up.”
K.K. Allen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who writes heartfelt and inspirational contemporary romance stories. K.K. graduated from the University of Washington with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree and currently resides in central Florida with her ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.
K.K. published her first contemporary romance, Up in the Treehouse, in 2016 which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year.
With K.K.’s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.
I didn’t plan to marry a reclusive heiress. Lucky for me, I find myself attracted to my beautiful new bride. Our arranged marriage connects two powerful companies. That we’re compatible between the sheets is a bonus, but I didn’t bargain on her ex showing up at the wedding reception uninvited.
That pushed me right over the edge.
I protect what’s mine, and Charlotte is now mine, whether she likes it or not. Our honeymoon is a disaster in paradise. I’m angry. She’s resentful. All those swirling emotions explode in the most physical ways.
But even as I’m drawn closer to my new wife, there’s still a threat looming out there. Seamus McTiernan is determined to destroy what we’ve created.
I won’t let anything tear us apart.
He has no idea who he’s dealing with. I will end him.
Watch me.
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!
Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.
A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.
At eighteen, Poe Blyton’s life is in shambles and the reason is Alaric Marshall.
After her mom’s death, he appeared out of nowhere and became Poe’s controlling guardian. When she protested his tyranny, he had the audacity to send her away to an all-girls reform school. A school full of iron clad rules and regulations.
But at least she’s graduating soon.
Until Alaric himself arrives at the school as the new principal and takes that away from her as well.
That devil.
He’s really asking for it, isn’t he?
And Poe is going to give it to him.
It doesn’t matter that her sworn enemy has the prettiest dark eyes she’s ever seen. Or that he looks really, really good in his boring tweed jackets. So much so that she wants to rip them off his body and see what’s underneath.
Because scorching hot or not, her new principal or not, Poe is going to ruin Alaric’s life.
NOTE: This is a complete STANDALONE set in the world of St. Mary’s Rebels.
Saffron A. Kent is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, along with a million and one books.
She also blogs. Her musings related to life, writing, books and everything in between can be found in her JOURNAL on her website (www.thesaffronkent.com)
Good girls are saved by princes, but my savior is a monster.
After my father died and my family splintered, I became a target, a pawn in a game I didn’t know I was playing.
Then he appeared–dark, dangerous, tormented, and always just within reach.
He makes me feel something I lost years ago: Safe.
And he thinks he can keep me at arm’s length.
Once upon a time I was a hero, until the sins of my father caught up with me, and I was forced into darkness.
I should’ve died in that fire. Instead, I served evil men, until I risked it all by walking away.
Now I’m a wanted man. At any time, I could be taken down for what I owe.
What I don’t expect to find in my hiding place is her–broken, beautiful, so damn tempting.
I shouldn’t touch her with my filthy hands. I was hired to keep her safe.
But every day it gets harder, then she starts sneaking into my bed.
Together, we’re filthy, but together, we can find our way through the flames.
(FILTHY is a stand-alone, bodyguard, romantic suspense novel. It contains a fierce, wounded alpha-protector and the filthy girl he’s hired to protect… No cheating. No cliffhangers.) Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Meet Tia Louise Tia Louise is the USA TODAY best-selling, award-winning author of super-hot and sexy romances. All her heroes are alphas with hearts of gold, and all her heroines are the smart, sassy ladies who love them.
It looks like we’re adding another rule to the list: Don’t let anyone find out the truth.
Influenced, an all-new addictive new adult romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Kelsey Clayton, is available now!
From USA Today bestselling author Kelsey Clayton comes an addictive, laugh out loud romcom that will have you falling in love with more than just the main characters.
Welcome to the Swype House, where the secrets are bigger than the…
The rules are simple: Fake it for the cameras. Do it for the views. Don’t kill each other.
It felt like an easy yes when I was invited to change my bio from, “Kaia Blakely, college student,” to “Kaia Blakely, newest influencer at the Swype House.”
Then I met Declan Royce. His profile highlights his looks and his humor, but it ought to read, “Owner of an ego so large, it was given its own zip code.”
Suddenly, not killing each other feels like an impossible task.
So yes, it was death threats we were whispering in the background of that viral video, not sweet nothings. So no, there’s zero reason to keep the #Kailan hashtag trending.
Except that it’s our job. So it looks like we’re adding another rule to the list:
“You’re going to love this place,” Lux tells me. “And just a heads up, they don’t card. So order whatever you want.” “Good to know.” I look over the menu, listening to Maisee tell me which cocktails are her favorite and which one she avoids, like the margaritas. Apparently, when you’ve had seven of them, you tend to lose the ability to make good choices. I decide on some rum drink that looks like it has more juice than alcohol, and Lux says she’s going to have the same. Except, Declan seems to have other plans. He smiles up at the waitress in a way that makes her blush as he orders. “I’ll take a rum and coke, babe,” he tells her. “And a Shirley Temple for the kid over there. She’s underage.” Lux’s jaw drops as I exhale in disbelief. He looks smug as he rests his arm on the back of Oakley’s chair. I don’t know what the fuck his problem is, but if he could remove the stick from his ass, that would be great. Beau pinches his nose and shakes his head while Lux orders her Rum Breeze. “I’ll actually take the same,” Havoc says. While everyone looks at him like he’s lost his mind, Mayhem snorts. “Do you want a flower for your hair, too, princess?” “I might,” he claps back. “Depends on the color. Don’t try giving me that cheap dandelion shit either. Those fuckers are weeds. I want a real hibiscus.” The waitress giggles as she walks away to get our drinks. Once she’s gone, everyone’s attention is on Declan. “You’re such a dick, Dex,” Lux tells him. Nate hums. “We don’t call him Dicklan for nothing.” Even Beau gives Declan a look. “Not cool, man. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but just leave Kaia alone. She hasn’t done anything to you.” He scoffs and rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue further. “Whatever. I’m going to the bathroom.” The moment he saunters off, Maisee smiles at Oakley. “I love you, but I don’t know how you deal with him.” My brows furrow. With the way things have gone the last twenty-four hours, I never thought for a second that those two were dating. Especially after he just openly flirted with the waitress. Oakley glances back at where Declan just disappeared and sighs. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. I’m sorry, Kaia.” “Don’t be,” I tell her. “You did nothing wrong.” The table goes quiet for a moment, before Nate and Lux get into a debate on whether or not veganism is an extreme like the women use their placenta as a skincare treatment after birth. Some of us get involved in the conversation, while others, like me, just listen and laugh. “All I’m saying is there are a lot crazier people out there than those who just don’t want to jerk off a cow for a drink,” Nate argues. Lux has to fight to keep from laughing. “That’s not at all how that works.” He looks her up and down. “Oh yeah? Then please, explain to me how you milk a cow, Miss Beverly Hills.” Her eyes narrow on him but then she’s given the perfect out when the waitress comes back with our drinks. Everyone gets their beer, wine, and cocktails, while I get stuck with a Shirley Temple. Thank you, Dicklan. At least she put a few extra cherries in it. She takes our food orders, with Oakley ordering Declan’s meal for him since he still isn’t back yet, and then she leaves to go put them in. “Well, cheers,” I say sarcastically, holding up my toddler drink. Everyone chuckles until Havoc reaches across the table and switches out his Rum Breeze with my soda. That makes us all go silent, staring at him like he’s grown a second head. “What?” he questions. Lux smiles. “Aw. The tin man does have a heart.” “That’s not all I have,” he teases. “Come sit on my lap, Luxie. I’ll show you.” The grin drops right off her face. “And now you ruined it.” Laughter bubbles out of us all while I grab my new drink. “Thanks, Havoc. Seriously.” “It’s no problem.” “What’s no problem?” Declan asks as he sits back down. No one says a fucking word. We all stay perfectly still as he looks around, but when his eyes land on my drink, his brows furrow. He checks out what everyone else has until his eyes land on the Shirley Temple sitting in front of Havoc, and he glares at it. “So,” Nate says loudly to change the subject, “did anyone else see Jessica’s new boob job? Jesus be a plastic surgeon who can fix that shit, because her nipples are crooked.” Maisee sputters on her drink. “How did you see her nipples?” “Because they’re poking through her bikini top in the photo! Those things could poke eyes out if they weren’t less straight than me.” I look over at Beau to see him laughing while pressing on his temple. “The dinner conversations you guys insist on having. I swear.”
Meet Kelsey Kelsey Clayton is a USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance novels. She lives in a small town in Delaware with her husband, two kids, and dog. She is an avid reader of fall hard romance. She believes that books are the best escape you can find, and that if you feel a range of emotions while reading her stories – she succeeded. She loves writing and is only getting started on this life long journey. Kelsey likes to keep things in her life simple. Her ideal night is one with sweatpants, a fluffy blanket, cheese fries, and wine. She holds her friends and family close to her heart and would do just about anything to make them happy.
Emery Rose has been known to indulge in good red wine, strong coffee, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. When she’s not working on her latest project, you can find her binge-watching Netflix, trotting the globe in search of sunshine, or immersed in a good book. A former New Yorker, she currently resides in London with her two beautiful daughters.
From USA Today and International bestselling author, Veronica Eden, comes an all-new standalone reverse harem paranormal romance with a headstrong heroine and twisted demons who left their morals in the last century.
Open the gate…if you dare.
The first thing I’m warned about when I arrive at the girls’ home is to stay away from the abandoned graveyard. Local urban legend claims it’s host to a gate to Hell. Then I was dared… The legend is as real as the monsters I’ve summoned by activating the gate. Demons guard it, waiting for skeptical idiots like me to do the ritual. Three sinfully hot, dangerously powerful demons. Valerian. Matthias. Alder. Ruthless. Deadly. Terrifying. The gate’s three wicked protectors won’t let me get away without paying their price. I’m at their mercy, fighting to survive them and the supernatural world they drag me into. But none of us are prepared for what is awakening within me. A long buried secret and hidden ancient magic will change everything. The match is lit and together we’re all going up in flames.
Veronica Eden is an international bestselling author of dark new adult romances + reverse harem romances with spitfire heroines and irresistible heroes.
She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff bad boys, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of morally gray decisions. She believes sometimes the villain should get the girl and is a sucker for a deliciously devilish antihero.
Veronica also writes romance as Mara Townsend.
When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cats), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.
My first year at university started with a bang…literally.
I crashed into someone’s car. Even worse? It turns out that the person I blindsided is my new housemate, Liam, second-year student and football player.
It’s hate at first sight…until it isn’t.
But even if he doesn’t hate me anymore, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s straight.
At least, I thought he was.
One night, one kiss, and everything I thought I knew turns upside down.
Becca Steele is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of M/F and M/M romance. She currently lives in the south of England with her husband, two kids, and a whole horde of characters that reside inside her head.
When she’s not writing, you can find her reading or watching Netflix, usually with a glass of wine in hand. Failing that, she’ll be online hunting for memes, or wasting time making her 500th Spotify playlist.
Although I take my job very seriously—being the resident charmer, the man responsible for helping clients with security, all the while making it look like I’m the newest love interest of insanely gorgeous women—it looks like it’s all fun and games.
I’m getting paid to go on dates to some of the most glamorous places all around the world after all, but at the end of the day, it’s still work.
When the assignment is over, I walk away—usually with a smile and another notch in my bedpost, but who am I to turn down the perks?
This new assignment should be no different. I can play any role handed to me.
Hell, I love a new challenge.
Only Archer Bremen is different… and not just for the obvious reasons.
His British accent hits me in a way I never expected.
The scowl on his face makes me think of a million things I could do to make it fade.
His smile tells me that this new assignment is going to change everything…
Let’s see…where to begin… I’m inching up on the BIG 4-0. The gray hairs are doubling what seems like daily, and the wrinkles and laugh lines are more pronounced than ever. I have an amazing husband (Married just over 15 years.) We have two boys we’re doing our best to raise as respectful gentleman. I have a master’s degree in criminal justice which I used to work as a juvenile probation office until deciding to write full-time in June of 2019. So that means there’s usually always some criminal/law element to my novels. If I’m not writing; I’m reading. My favorite genres recently are bully/reverse harem and enemies to lovers. Maybe I’m reliving my traumatic teen years through the girls who actually end up with the boys. (Not that I would change my history since it’s gotten me exactly where I need to be!) I love coffee. I miss carbs. Music is LIFE. I try not to be too serious.
Toes in the sand. Umbrella cocktails. Shirtless hot boys. One fleeting summer. Will your heart survive? It’s about to heat up in here…
Hot Boy Summer: A Charity Anthology is a collection of brand new stories from 31 amazingly talented authors. Each brings to the table their own unique take on the connections we form when we live wildly under the guise of momentary fervor. It’s poolside cocktails with little umbrellas, it’s island vacations, toes in the sand, and the shirtless hot boy making eye contact with you from across the way. Dive in and experience the sizzling passion that erupts in the heat of a fleeting summer.
***HBS is a limited edition anthology collection and 100% of proceeds will be donated to children’s charities.***
Delighted, an all-new captivating Masters and Mercenaries novella from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!
Brian “Boomer” Ward believes in sheltering strays. After all, the men and women of McKay-Taggart made him family when he had none. So when the kid next door needs help one night, he thinks nothing of protecting her until her mom gets home. But when he meets Daphne Carlton, the thoughts hit him hard. She’s stunning and hardworking and obviously in need of someone to put her first. It doesn’t hurt that she’s as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes.
Daphne Carlton’s life revolves around two things—her kid and her business. Daphne’s Delights is her dream—to take the recipes of her childhood and share them with the world. Her daughter, Lou, is the best kid she could have hoped for. Lou’s got a genius-level intelligence and a heart of gold. But she also has two grandparents who control her access to private school and the fortune her father left behind. They’re impossible to please, and Daphne worries that one wrong move on her part could cost her daughter the life she deserves.
As Daphne and Boomer find themselves getting closer, outside forces put pressure on the new couple. But if they make it through the storm, love will just be the icing on the cake because family is the real prize.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
“It was a rough day. I could use a hug, if you don’t mind,” she said, trying to hold back tears. “The oven is going to die soon, and I don’t have the money to fix it, and I’m going to fail.” His arms came around her, and she breathed him in. He smelled clean and crisp, like a spring wind. Her brain knew it had to be soap, but she associated the smell with him, and it soothed her. “It’s okay.” He rocked her a little. “I’ve got a friend who is good with appliances. I can ask her to look at it. Don’t worry, Daph. It’s going to be all right. Lou’s good here. I promise. Lou’s good, and you’re going to be okay. I can’t let you go under or Big Tag would get mad at me. He really likes lemon cupcakes.” They stood there for a moment, his warmth melting some of the ice that had built up over the last several years. She tilted her head up, and that gorgeous man was staring down at her like he could eat her up, and warm was no longer the word she would use. Hot. Desire flooded her system like a flash fire, and she wanted nothing more than to go up on her toes and kiss those magnificent lips of his. Those lips belonged to another woman, and that woman was in the building. What the hell was she thinking? He was a nice man. He didn’t want to kiss her. He was being kind. She stepped back, wiping her eyes. “Thank you, Boomer. And if you do have someone who can take a look at the oven, I would so appreciate it. You get all the cupcakes. What kind does MaeBe like? Would she be okay with the hugging thing?” He frowned, like he was trying to figure something out. “I hug Mae a lot. At least I used to. She’s not so huggy these days. She likes anything chocolate.” Boomer had looked sad when he’d said Mae didn’t hug him much anymore. She hated the thought of this big cuddly god of a man being in a cold relationship, but she wasn’t going to be the reason they broke up. “Then I will make her something chocolate, and the lemon ones for your boss,” Daphne promised. She had to get these crazy urges under control or she would need to find Lou another place to stay, and she got the feeling Lou would object. “So where is the lounge? Or the gulag. That one kind of scares me.” “Kala? Oh, that proves you have excellent instincts.” Boomer turned to walk back down the hall. Those heads were back up above their cubicle walls, and she also noticed the doors to a whole bunch of offices were open. “Is there a reason everyone is watching us?” She hurried down the hall to catch up with him. “Because they’re all nosy bastards, and I can’t even complain,” Boomer replied. “I was a nosy bastard, too. We’re a weird family, and everyone is always in everyone else’s business, but it’s not a bad thing. The kind of people who would take advantage get weeded out very quickly around here. Big Tag takes care of them, and there’s usually a lawsuit, but that’s what Mitch is for. Hey, we also have a criminal defense attorney on call. Her name is Lea, and she’s really scary. Now if she had been working the reception desk when we invaded, we might have had trouble.” She loved listening to him talk. His voice was deep, but every word was tinged with the humor he seemed to have for the world around him. The positive light he exuded was always there in his words. If only the man weren’t attached… She shoved aside the thought because he was totally out of her league. They weren’t even playing the same game. But maybe they could be friends.
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.
He’s good at faking it. But it’s starting to feel real.
A Borrowed Boyfriend, a brand new fake relationship romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Angela Casella, is out now!
On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it that I want to see my fake boyfriend naked?
Marnie
What’s worse than being left at the altar? Becoming a meme because one of your nearest and dearest took a video of you running—and falling—down the aisle and made it internet famous.
Yup, I’m that Marnie Jones. My sister is for-real famous, which only makes people more interested in my predicament. Is it any wonder I’m feeling down?
My best friends will try anything to cheer me up…including setting me up with the Fairy Godmother Agency, a maybe-crazy husband and wife private investigator-slash-life coach team who promise to find the person who sold me out. Better yet, they lend me a fake boyfriend to make my ex jealous and appease my sister.
Griffin is gorgeous, attentive, and a very convincing actor. He’s perfect for the job.
Too perfect.
***
Griffin
After a lifetime of practice, I’m good at pretending. But the more time I spend with Marnie Jones, the less I have to feign my interest in her.
She may be down, but she’s not out. She’s beautiful, funny, and just the right amount of weird. All she needs is someone to remind her of that.
If I weren’t such a screw up, I’d have half a mind to do it myself.
Keep reading for a look inside A Borrowed Boyfriend!
“Aw, you two are staring into each other’s eyes like you’re teenagers,” Sinclair says, slicing her way into the moment. I shift my attention to my sister’s face on the iPad. Her words are sweet, but she’s obviously not appeased. To be fair, she’s spoken to me nearly every day for the last month, and I’ve been feeling down for a while. Now, I’m suddenly in a relationship with a man who looks like this, wearing a nighty that could have been stolen from the set of her Netflix show. She probably has whiplash. Then again, maybe she thinks I could never find a man like this without bribing him. It stings, even more so because she’s right. “What can I say? Mitchell makes me feel like I’m a teenager again,” I tell her, my tone tight. “The same age you were when you pretended you had a boyfriend?” She grins at “Mitchell,” that thousand-dollar grin that’s on dozens of posters. “See? I have my reasons for suspicion.” Old hurt wells up inside of me. My sister was a beautiful TV star, and I was an awkward teenager who couldn’t attract a second glance from a guy unless he was teasing me. So, yes, when she asked if I had a date to prom, I claimed I did. Rupert Wrightman. Crap. I’m really bad at coming up with off-the-cuff names. Actually, considering I told her this handsome stranger next to me is called “Mitchell Mountainbottom,” I’ve probably gotten worse at it. I look down, but suddenly strong fingers are touching my jaw, tipping my face up. Then I’m looking into Mitchell’s eyes, which look hot, like caramel starting to boil in a pan, and he shocks me by leaning in for a soft kiss. It would have lasted for only a few second, just long enough for me to register his soft but firm lips, the brush of his short beard, and his spicy scent, but my mouth parts in surprise, and then I find myself pressing into him, electricity arcing between us and gluing us together. He’s the one who pulls back, a slight smile on his face as he lifts his hand to my jaw and softly traces it. “Seems to me there must’ve been plenty of guys half in love with her,” he says, still looking at me, and my pulse is galloping in my chest, so alarmingly fast I think I might actually die. “If she did pretend to have a boyfriend, it was probably because she wanted to let them down easy.” He lifts a hand to my jaw again, tracing it. “She’s thoughtful like that.” I’m at a loss for words. Actually, I can’t do anything but gape at him. Should I be pissed at him? Probably. Maybe I would be if I could form a single coherent thought. It’s for the best that Sinclair takes over. “You guys are too cute.” There’s a bit of an edge to her voice. She’s still suspicious, although I’ll bet she’s not altogether sure why she’s suspicious. “Yes, we are,” Mitchell says with a smirk. He’s still looking at me, though. I’m the one who finally breaks the stare. Glancing back at my sister, I clear my throat. “We have to go. Talk to you later?” “Where do you have to go?” she asks. “You haven’t even finished your breakfast.” Mitchell gives her a suggestive grin. “Isn’t it obvious? It was nice meeting you, Scarlett.” Then he reaches over and ends the call.
ANGELA CASELLA loves writing romcoms, particularly with the lovely Denise Grover Swank. They write together as Angela Denise. Angela also writes the Fairy Godmother Agency series. She lives in Asheville, NC with her husband, daughter, and two geriatric dogs. Her hobbies include herding her daughter toward less dangerous activities, stress baking, and marathon watching TV shows.
I had big plans for my future. None of them included becoming my bully’s princess….
If I wanted to get into my dream college, I needed to up my volunteer game, and tutoring was the perfect way to do it.
Why did my newest pupil have to be him?
Ethan Madden may be the “too sexy for his own good” captain of the soccer team but that didn’t change what he had done.
See, Ethan was the guy who’d been making my life miserable since we were kids. And it didn’t seem like much had changed. He was still the cold, dark-hearted bastard he’d always been.
But, we aren’t kids anymore.
So, if tutoring Ethan was the only way to get what I needed, I was more than capable of doing the job and getting out quickly.
At least I thought I could do that until Ethan told me he wanted something, too—and it wasn’t just tutoring.
He wanted me.
Knowing him, he was willing to play dirty, too. What he didn’t know was that when it came to protecting my heart, so was I…
She’d been having darker stories pop into her mind and she couldn’t stop thinking about the so here they are.
Kristie/Tyleigh is a feisty redheaded Canadian/American who fell in love with romance novels when her friend Phil bought her a Kindle that hasn’t left her side since.
Her favorite books to read are anything taboo and super sick and twisted.
She grew up in Burlington, Ontario, Canada but moved to South Florida in 2013 where she now lives with her high school sweetheart and three kids.
To learn more about Tyleigh and her books, visit here!
Blurb: Dane Wade is a breath of fresh air. Sexy, charming, and with abs that could melt any woman’s panties. With my rules and boundaries in place, he is the perfect person to have fun with to pass the time. As long as he knows it will never amount to anything more. Which he does … I think.
But then boundaries get shattered. Lines get blurred. And I know it’s time to bolt before things get harder and I risk falling deeper. Running away is the only thing I know how to do. And in my twenty years on this earth, it’s worked for me.
They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. They’re wrong. I knew what I had all along. I just couldn’t accept it.
And now … he might be gone for good.
One thing is for sure: it’ll take more than an apology for him to want me back. But saying I’m sorry is a good place to start.
Hannah Gray spends her days in vacationland, living in a small, quaint town on the coast of Maine. She is an avid reader of contemporary romance and is always in competition with herself to read more books every year.
During the day, she loves on her three perfect-to-her daughters and tries to be the best mom she can be. But once she tucks them in at night—okay, scratch that. Once they fall asleep next to her in her bed—because their bedrooms apparently have monsters in them—she dives into her own fantasy world, staying awake well into the late-night hours, typing away stories about her characters. As much as she loves being a wife and mom—and she certainly does love it—reading and writing are her outlet, giving her a place to travel far away while still physically being with her family.
She married her better half in 2013, and he’s been putting up with her craziness every day since. As her anchor, he’s her one constant in this insane, forever-changing world.
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Lorraine brings you the next installment of her dark mafia, high school bully romance story set in the Knight’s Ridge Empire world.
My life has been full of half-truths tangled in lies—I’d been to hell and back more times than I could count.
But nothing could have prepared me for the fear in her voice, and then the sight of that building going up in flames.
After the way I treated her, the way I hurt her, I’d earned that pain back tenfold. I deserved to lose the only bit of light in my dark, twisted life.
Neither of us have survived the suffering only to have it end this way and I refuse to believe that our time is done. It can’t be. Because she was made for me—the only good thing that came out of my past.
And the first chance I get, I’m going to make sure she knows exactly what she means to me.
No more lies.
No more pretending.
Just the raw, honest truth.
I can’t live without her and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to her that she belongs with me.
That the life we were born into might have left us damaged, but it made us stronger.
And when she claims her rightful place amongst us, I’ll be by her side and together we will rule this reckless dynasty.
But first we have to survive…
Dear Reader,
Reckless Dynasty is the third, and final book in the Reckless trilogy in my Knight’s Ridge Empire series.
Begin the series for FREE with One Reckless Knight – you can grab it here!
Meet Tracy Lorraine
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author.
Tracy has recently-ish turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up. Molly and Ryan were born and the rest is history, as they say!
This is my nightmare. When I think of a support group, I think of sad people sitting around talking about their feelings and nothing changing.
And yet, when my brother and his best friend, who happens to be a therapist, presented the idea of holding the meetings at my gym, I caved.
Because I, Benjamin Price, have always tried to rescue the people in my life. But I can’t. I’ve usually failed them.
Now, I’m hosting a trauma support group and desperately trying not to fall into my old habits—of attempting to save everyone.
And then, he walks in.
Bruised. But not broken. No matter how exhausted he may feel, a strength in him calls to me.
And there’s no way I can ignore the need deep inside me to at least try.
Colby
I’m tired. I’m afraid. And I don’t want to go back.
Not to the abusive relationship I told myself I was okay with for years.
But what am I supposed to do?
I have no real life skills. All my life, I’ve been told I’m pretty and that’s it.
Then I walk into a gym, looking for a job, but I find so much more.
I don’t want to trust Ben. I don’t believe his help doesn’t come with a price.
But what choice do I really have?
One thing’s for sure . . . Neither of us are getting out of this intact.
What we lose though, that’s anyone’s guess.
**Trigger Warning**
Bruised But Not Broken is set around a trauma support group and will, therefore, touch on extremely sensitive subjects. I’ll always do my best to handle these topics with care and healing, and with no intention of hurting anyone. But please, heed this warning if you have any triggers.
Nicole Dykes is a wife and a professional assistant/mom to two gorgeous girls. Currently residing in Kansas, she’s a lover of coffee, Kansas City Chiefs, and all things romance. She currently has over 20 published books with her Monroe and Adamson series being the most popular. She enjoys cranking up the angst level, making her readers cry, and turning those tears into the coffee that fuels her writing.
They stole my heart at fourteen and broke it before we even graduated high school.
It’s been five years since I’ve seen them, and only a twist of fate reunites us when the mountain falls. It’s the first disaster in a predicted apocalypse—a string of natural disasters that could be catastrophic.
It’s the beginning of the end of everything.
Finis omnibus.
Old feelings reignite and new feelings blossom as the four of us form an unbreakable bond. As the world starts to fall and society fractures, it’s a race against time for survival.
Penelope Black is a romance writer who loves living-room dance parties, iced chai lattes, and getting lost in a book. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, two tiny humans, and a fluffy labradoodle.
Vengeance of a Mafia Queen, an all -new dark enemies-to-lovers mafia romance full of suspense from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis, is available now!
Losing my innocence at thirteen, in the most brutal way, changed me. My kidnapper stole my childhood and tried to break me. The knowledge my father orchestrated the entire situation hardened my heart, and instead of grieving his death, I celebrated it.
One down. Many more to go.
My burning need for revenge has only grown over the years, keeping me focused on my goals and enabling my rise to power.
Made men are weak. A pretty face and the promise of a good time easily distracts them.
Now, I’m in charge.
Men bow before me.
Except for him—the brother of my abductor. Massimo fights me every step of the way, but I’m not about to let the explosive chemistry between us deter me from my chosen path. His family is my enemy. He is my enemy, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
I won’t stop until all those who wronged me are punished.
By the time they realize I’m coming, it will be too late.
They tried to take everything from me.
But where they failed, I will succeed.
Unless he becomes my weakness.
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Lust blazes in his eyes. “I will wait for you to come to me.”
“You’ll be waiting,” I blurt, irritated when amusement skates across his face. I hate how he can obviously tell it’s a lie. He can see I’m floundering. That his want is not one-sided.
“I have a hand, and my blue balls can be patient.” A teasing smile spreads across his mouth, and I’m ensnared. Massimo is truly beautiful, and I only hope I’m strong enough to resist. I already suspect I’m not. “To a point,” he whispers against my ear, sending warm shivers coursing along my flesh. I squirm on his lap, failing to ignore the hard, thick length pulsing underneath me.
Massimo groans, and his eyes darken with undeniable desire. “You were put on this earth to test me. I’m sure of it.”
I can’t smother my smile in time.
“One kiss,” he says, his eyes dropping to my mouth as his tongue darts out and he wets his lips. “Would you deny your husband a kiss on his wedding night?”
“I have kissed you today.”
He shakes his head as his fingers sweep back and forth across my mouth, making it harder and harder to resist temptation. “I have kissed you. You have gone along with it because it was expected.”
He’s as delusional as me if he truly believes that. I drive my hands into his hair without even thinking about it. “Will everything be a negotiation between us?”
His brows climb to his hairline and a devilish grin widens his lush mouth. “Do we know any other way to be?”
“One kiss. Just one kiss.” The words feel like lies as I spout them.
“That is all I am asking.” He closes his eyes, moaning softly as my fingers explore the thick strands of his black hair. “That feels so incredibly good.”
I brush my mouth against his, and his eyes pop wide. His hands flatten against my back, pushing me in closer to his tempting body. I can indulge in one kiss. It is my wedding night after all, and my husband is one of the sexiest men alive. It’s not wrong to take this one thing for myself, right? “Just one kiss,” I remind him as our breaths comingle.
“Only one.”
Closing my eyes, I lower my mouth to his and descend into sheer bliss. He lets me control it, at first, and I’m surprised at the potent need driving me to take everything as I prod at the seam of his lips with my tongue. He opens instantly, letting my tongue plunge inside his mouth. I reposition myself on his lap, straddling his hips, so I can properly kiss him, and it’s that moment when all bets are off.
About Siobhan Siobhan Davis is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Top 10 bestselling romance author. Siobhan writes emotionally intense stories with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She has sold over 1.5 million books and her titles are translated into several languages.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She lives in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Dating the guy he hates the most could backfire. But I’ve always been good at playing with matches.
A Vicious Rumor, a compelling and passionate dark bully romance from USA Today bestselling author Ivy Wild, is available now!
Lily:
The first time I met Tyson Stone, he gave me a bloody nose. He didn’t mean to hit me, he was fighting this other kid, but let’s just say I’d take the pain of his fist over his cruelness any day of the week. Five years after this incident, and I’m in his shark tank. His domain. His kingdom. His prep school. Freefalling for him is a recipe for disaster, but that’s what happens nonetheless. Then he starts pushing me away for no reason, but there’s one thing he forgets. I’m not one of his disposable flings. I’m worthy, I’m a catch, and if he doesn’t realize it…well, then his arch-enemy will. Dating the guy he hates the most could backfire. But I’ve always been good at playing with matches.
Tyson:
My life is a series of calamities strung together by blood and bad press. Wherever I go, trouble follows. Now, normally I’m not a charitable guy, but when I pass on Lily White’s delectable body, it is entirely for her own good. Call me an altruistic jerk, but I just don’t want to see her hurt. That’s until she starts dating the guy I loathe more than anything else in the world. That’s when all bets are off. We’re playing a dangerous game, she and I. The rumors are starting to swirl, and so are some dangerous thoughts about what I can do to her. Lily White is out of my league, but apparently, that’s not going to stop me.
Without a second thought, I jumped up and followed her. It was almost dark outside now, but the hallway lights hadn’t been turned on. I put my hand out to the wall to feel my way along, waiting for my eyes to adjust. I hadn’t seen which way she’d gone or if she’d gone into one of the bedrooms. Then, about two doors down on the right, I heard a door open and then shut.
Three big steps had me standing in front of the door and I opened it without hesitating. The door was heavy and closed behind me with a big of a bang that I wasn’t expecting.
“Who’s there?” a timid voice called out from the bathroom.
I paused for a second, not sure if I should just turn back around or answer. I wasn’t even sure what I was doing here. Before I had a chance to decide on an answer, the light to the bathroom flipped on, letting me make out my surroundings. I was clearly in a girl’s room. By the things that were hung here and there, it was likely Lily’s.
There’s was a dream catcher above the bed, a few plants next to the windows, and some pictures of her and her mom on the dresser. She was standing just out of arm’s reach, her blue eyes wide. I hated all the makeup she had taken to wearing lately. I missed seeing her just as she was.
“Tyson? What are you doing here?” she asked in a timid voice.
I scoffed at the irony of the question. What was I doing here? I still, to this day, could not figure out what she was doing here, at Scissors’ house. It all still didn’t make sense.
And it made me fucking angry. The fact that she was with Scissors. The fact that she was here, in this room.
Two steps and I was in front of her. A grab of her arm and she gasped. A hand behind her neck and she was melting into me. All of it gave me the answers I needed, but I was still going to ask the question.
“What. Are. You. Doing. Here?” I said, enunciating each word.
“I live here,” she said breathlessly, not moving in closer but not making any attempt to pull away.
“How?” I asked. The hand resting behind her neck squeezed slightly. I was so close to her now. I could feel the heat rising off of her body. I could remember just how good her skin felt pressing into mine. How good her breasts felt in my palms. I wanted it all again. I wanted her again, and I wanted to know that no one else was going to fucking touch her but me.
“Scholarship,” she said quietly, knowing I was catching her in a lie.
“I wasn’t aware there was a scholarship to live at the King’s mansion,” I whispered into her ear. She shivered, but didn’t move. “So, what’s the story, Tiger Lily? Hm?” I said, my lips ghosting over the shell of her ear. “You fucking him to get free room and board? Is that it? Like a common whore?”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself. But, I was angry, and I wanted her angry. I wanted her on edge as much as I was on edge. I wanted to see what she would do, if she felt the same emotions that I felt. If she brushed me off, I’d have my answer. It’d mean she didn’t care about me or what I said.
But…
But…
If she reacted, then I knew I had her.
And she did. Because when the word “whore” left my lips, she pulled back and slapped me as hard as she could across the face, which wasn’t very hard. It stung just the slightest, and I smiled.
Grinned, actually.
She was still in love with me.
I’d been right all along. This thing with Scissors, it was a rouse.
I grabbed her wrist and pushed her back against the wall. My knee came between her legs, spreading them so that she was off balance. I put her wrist up above her head and pushed it to the wall. Her eyes widened as she looked at me.
I moved in close, pressing my cheek to hers so I could whisper in her ear.
“Tell me to stop at any time and I will. Just say the word, ‘stop,’ and I’ll walk out of this room. But,” I chuckled darkly, “we both know you’re not going to say it.”
About Ivy Writer of all things untamed, romantic and free, Ivy Wild never planned on becoming a romance novelist. In fact, she hated romance as a kid and was quite proud of that fact. Basically, life is weird.
Married to her own alpha hero, she currently lives in various places of the world at various times thanks to his military career.
He’s ready to steal his heart and never give it back.
Wicked Flame, a sizzling MM romance and the hot conclusion to the Chicago Heat Duet from USA Today bestselling author Ella Frank, is out now!
Jameson Life is hard. I learned that at an early age growing up on the South Side of Chicago. I accepted it, even came to expect it. With a sister who was a constant source of worry, and a track record of losing anyone even remotely close to me, trouble seemed to follow me no matter where I turned.
Some people were born lucky. I was just born.
That’s what I used to believe, anyway, until GQ. The gorgeous guy in the fancy clothes who for some reason decided to look twice at me. He gave me a place to call my own, a space to feel safe, and he made me believe in the impossible—that love was more than just a four-letter word.
Ryan Life is unexpected. I learned that just recently when I walked into a bar on the South Side and found the love of my life—Jameson Clarke.
He’s everything I’ve always wanted, and yet somehow even better than I imagined. He’s brave, brash, protective of those he loves, and under all that bravado is a vulnerability that calls to my very soul.
Jameson’s a storm cloud, but he thinks I’m the sun. If that’s true, then I’m determined to break through the shadows of his past and steal his heart the way he’s stolen mine.
About Ella Frank Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction.
Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.
The One Month Boyfriend, an all-new fake-relationship rom-com full of heat and laughs from bestselling author Roxie Noir, is available now!
It’s a simple enough agreement: for one month, Silas Flynn is my boyfriend of convenience.
He needs his old-fashioned boss to think he’s ready to settle down.
I need some arm candy to prove to my jerk ex-fiancé that I’ve moved on.
Perfect, right? Except for one minor detail: we can’t stand each other.
Everybody thinks he’s this perfect guy, but I know the real Silas. He’s a cocky, obnoxious jerk who thinks he can charm his way out of trouble and get anything he wants.
But there’s one tiny problem with fake dating: it looks a lot like real dating. Worse, it feels a lot like real dating.
I know once this is over, we’ll go our separate ways. No matter the smoldering looks he gives me, the possessive way he touches me, or the dirty things he whispers in my ear, Silas isn’t falling for me.
That’s fine. No matter how good being with him feels, I’m not falling for him, either.
“Okay,” Kat says, reading from her document, and suddenly she sounds nervous. “The acceptable romantic actions.” I settle in a little more against the desk, getting comfortable. “Hand holding,” she starts, her voice low, not looking up. “Putting our arms around each other. Touching on the back. Touching on the shoulders and arms. Sitting close together. Quietly talking to one another. Hair caresses within reason. Non-mouth kisses in non-risque regions. Moderate cuddling while clothed.” The list comes out rapid-fire and staccato, and I’m not sure she pauses for a breath until it’s over. I grab a pen.. “I’d like a definition of within reason,” I say, making a quick note. “I mean don’t pet me or something, I’m not a cat. Are you going to make me define moderate as it pertains to cuddling, or can we both agree to a mutual understanding of the word and move on?” she asks, giving me a pointed look. “If I were your attorney I’d advise a completely new draft of this document five times longer and a hundred times more specific,” I say. “You don’t even have a breach of contract clause in here.” Now she’s pinching the bridge of her nose, glasses hoisted up. “I’m sorry that I wrote things down because I wanted to be sure we were on the same page about whatever the fuck it is we’re even doing,” she says, voice muffled by her hand but sarcastic. “Is there any chance we can just get through this and move on?” Something about the way she says it hits me right below the sternum, in that soft, susceptible spot: Kat with her shields briefly down, human for once instead of the stony, spiky creature who saw me at my worst and drove me down instead of having some mercy. Suddenly there’s a bend, some give, an acknowledgement of being made of flesh and blood, same as everyone. “We can move on to the second article,” I concede, and then the glasses are back. “Entitled ‘Acceptable actions when circumstances require’?” “Thank you,” she says, and reads. “Touching on the leg. Intense cuddles. Full-trunk embraces. Romantic-style face touching. Any sort of stroking. Mouth kisses. Verbal declarations of attraction. Kisses in moderately risqué locations.” She finishes, and I don’t hate hearing her say moderately risque locations. “When, exactly, do circumstances require?” I finally ask. I get a look, and hold up my free hand. “Honest question.” “When the situation calls for us to… need to demonstrate our attraction,” she says, quickly. I think she’s blushing, the faintest of pinks under light gold skin. “You mean when he’s around,” I say. “This is a list of things you want me to do in front of your ex.” She holds my gaze for a long time: three seconds, then five. “The things that’ll get him fired up,” I go on. Kat takes one deep breath, her chest rising, then falling under her shirt. “Yes,” she finally says, voice hushed. “This is what he’s gonna hate.” “When I hold you close and whisper something dirty in your ear,” I say, rephrasing the words in front of me. I say it to get a reaction from her, and her lips twitch like maybe she’s trying not to smile. “I think whispering would defeat the purpose,” she says. “Then I’ll hold you close and holler something dirty.” “As long as it works.” I don’t hate the thought quite as much as I might like. I wonder how she’d react, whether she’d blush or recoil. Maybe both. Kat seems complicated. “Home stretch,” I say, making myself relax back against the desk, banishing all thoughts of whispers. “The never list.” “No touching in the swimsuit zone,” she says. “No weird PDA. No entering one another’s domiciles. No bed sharing.” “That’s it?” “I’m concise,” she says, and that glimmer of amusement is back. “And don’t ask for a definition of weird.”
About Roxie I love writing sexy, alpha men and the headstrong women they fall for.
My weaknesses include: beards, whiskey, nice abs with treasure trails, sarcasm, cats, prowess in the kitchen, prowess in the bedroom, forearm tattoos, and gummi bears.
I live in California with my very own sexy, bearded, whiskey-loving husband and two hell-raising cats.
From Contemporary Romance Author Avery Samson comes a brand new romantic comedy full of unexpected laughs and the forever kind of love.
Karlie is a star volleyball player at a small college in New England. Moving into the last available apartment on campus, she has high hopes until she finds its state less than stellar. Deciding to make the best out of a sketchy situation, she soldiers on. Until she locks herself out the first night. No one else has moved in, so she’s left with only one option. Call the university police to help.
Max is just settling into his new, temporary assignment as a police officer on one of the many college campuses in town. Heading home after patrolling the first day of move-in by the fall athletes, he agrees to take one last call. Little does he know what awaits him on the other side of the door. He just has to survive flaming appliances, nipple rings, rabid squirrels, and a basement dwelling chupacabra to win the girl of his dreams.
Avery Samson grew up on a ranch outside of a small west Texas town. Since she could remember, she’s had her face stuck in a book. She left ranch life to attend Texas Christian University where she studied History and English receiving her Bachelor’s degree.
After living all over the state of Texas, she now finds herself back on one of the family ranches near Dallas with her husband surrounded by cattle. When not traveling or reading, she spends her time writing.
Bloody Cruel Psycho, an explosive dark college romance in The Bloody Duet from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Smoke, is available now!
A life for a life … will kill the both of us in the end.
Clover
I know nothing of the Sickness at Eastpoint University. I know only the backroads that slip past the southern beaches and the gators that make their way onto the swamps shores. Until him. Until the killer known as Braxton Smalls finds his way into my stilted trailer on the coast of Port Charlotte.
He came looking for Ace, but he found me instead…
Braxton
I’m a monster. Always have been. Always will be. The only people I’ve ever given a shit about are my boys and their girls. No one hurts my family, and knowing that someone has … and that they’ve gotten away with it plagues me.
Ace Volkov will pay for what he put Avalon through and if I have to use his most precious weakness to draw him out, I will.
She thinks she can bargain for his life with her own, but I mean to show her that there’s nothing I won’t do to see my vengeance through to the end.
“You want to bend me and break me, Braxton Smalls.”
“And you’re going to let me,” he shoots back. “All for him.” He spits out the last word like it’s a curse.
I shake my head. “To an extent, Brax,” I warn him. “You think you have me cornered because I agreed to fuck you in return for you not tearing ass after Ace, but understand this much.” I lean up on my elbows and stare back at him. He grits his teeth as his hands ball into fists. “I’m the swamp rat you picked up. I have not been catered to my whole life like the women you were raised around. I am my own person and when someone pushes too far, I let them know. You have rights over my body, Brax, but that’s as far as it goes.”
Braxton’s arms drop to his sides and before I know it, his hands are around my waist as he rips the towel away from my body and turns, shoving me up against the outside glass of the shower. “You think your body is all you’re giving me, Clover?”
I swallow hard. “Yes.” I turn the small lie into a silent prayer.
His wide mouth curves into a vicious smile. “Then you have nothing to fear.”
About Lucy Lucy Smoke/Lucinda Dark suffers from severe wanderlust and enjoys people watching to find her next character. Who knows, maybe you’re in one of her stories as well.
Author of new adult, reverse harem, and dark romance, Lucy Smoke/Lucinda Dark switches between subgenres, but focuses the primary themes of her novels on strong heroines and romance.
She lives and works in the south with her beloved puppy, Hiro, and enjoys teasing the life out of her all of her friends.
Two halves of a whole, Arlo Bishop and I were both unwanted kids brought together by the foster system. Dealing with the aftermath of neglect and abandonment, we grew up side by side and found solace in one another.
We wanted. We needed. We loved. Desperately.
But somewhere along the way, Arlo wanted and needed and loved drugs more. So, I did the only thing I could and broke my own heart to save his.
Now, four years later, I’m back in L.A. and face-to-face with my past. Not only does the pain and hurt of our mistakes linger between us but so do our feelings.
I didn’t plan on a second chance—fear of history repeating itself making it hard to forgive and even harder to forget. But with only one touch, one kiss, I was taken back to where it all started.
Two halves of a whole, Arlo and I were made for each other. But we were no longer the unwanted foster kids.
Meet Marley Valentine Living in Sydney, Australia with her family, Marley Valentine is a USA Today bestselling author and a former social worker who uses her past experiences to write real life, emotional and heartfelt contemporary romance.
She enjoys mixing it up with both M/F and M/M Romance incorporating all forms of life, lust and love as her characters embark on their journey to their happily ever after.
Ricky Ruiz—ruthless kingpin, reclusive heir, the one man I can’t seem to outrun.
Rumors buzz when a pic of me buying a pregnancy test goes viral. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if, roughly one month ago, I wasn’t also spotted with the new top-dog of Cypress Pointe’s most notorious crime family.
The same crime family my father dedicated his entire law enforcement career trying to bring to their knees.
Ricky inherited the money, the houses, the cars, but he also inherited the danger. He sleeps with one eye open and one finger on the trigger. So, when my name starts popping up alongside his on social media, the beast awakens, convinced there’s now a target on my back, too.
He’s not big on patience or subtlety, which I realize when I come home to find him waiting in a dark corner of my apartment, in no mood for a debate. He’s on a mission to collect what he believes is his.
Me.
My father warned me about the Ruiz family. If I’d listened, I might not be locked in a room inside Ricky’s home, I’d still have the job he decided to quit for me, and I’d still have my freedom.
I have no plans to be Ricky’s caged bird. Not even with an army of street soldiers at his disposal. He’d beg to differ. According to him, it’s just a matter of time before I give in and admit what he claims to have known from the beginning.
That I’m already his.
*
Trigger Warning: Ricky lives up to his reputation, so if you’re sensitive to excessive, explicit violence, you might want to pass this one up. There are also situations that may be triggering for those who have experienced pregnancy-related trauma. Reader discretion is advised.
BROKEN TIES (Rixon High #4) by L.A. Cotton Release Date: May 19th Genre/Tropes: Sports Romance/Childhood Friends to Lovers/Best Friend’s Brother Book 4 of the Rixon High series (standalone)
Blurb: From 𝘜𝘚𝘈 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 and 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 bestselling author L A Cotton, comes a slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Angst… drama… friendship… and football. Will you survive senior year?
Poppy Ford has been in love with her best friend forever. But she’s firmly in the friend zone and fears she may never get out. Aaron Bennet has been dreaming of a football scholarship forever. But he’s not the Rixon Raiders star player, and he never will be.
While Aaron is focused on proving himself, Poppy is hoping he’ll finally wake up and see what’s right in front of him.
He doesn’t want to lose his best friend. She doesn’t want to lose senior year to a boy who doesn’t want her. But fate has other ideas for them.
And when hearts get broken and dreams get shattered, will their friendship be strong enough to survive? Or will the ties that bind them finally unravel?
About the Author: Author of over thirty mature young adult and new adult novels, LA COTTON is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns. Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find LA immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
She’s the only woman he can’t resist. And now she lives right next door.
Kiss My Giraffe, a spicy grumpy sunshine romantic comedy, and the final standalone in the Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!
Fiona knew Knox would be mad when she moved in next door. And not because she brought a collection of wild animals with her.
And she was right.
So she intended to leave him alone. Mostly.
But he’s not ignoring her. He’s actively working to send her and her “ridiculous menagerie” (rude) right back out of town.
Still, as hard as she tries, it’s impossible to stop thinking about the small town grump’s long hair and tattoos and that mouth.
Not the one that’s almost always set in a grim line and says things like, “you got a permit for that?”
Nope, the one that kisses her like she’s everything he’s ever wanted and says very dirty things in her ear. And sweet, protective, supportive things. Sometimes. Accidentally. When she catches him off-guard.
The one that also says he only wants a long-distance fling with her. Nothing serious. And that he never dates women he sees every day. Like his neighbor.
Well, fine. If he doesn’t want her—and her unbelievable past and that-can’t-be-real future—then she doesn’t want him either. He can just kiss her…giraffe. (Yeah, she actually has a couple of those.)
Now she just needs to convince her heart to give him up.
“Remember that thing we talked about at Christmas?” Knox felt his gut clench. They’d talked about sleeping together. And him becoming the temporary foster dad to three baby otters. And they’d kissed for the first time. A kiss that had been causing annoying, unwelcome, frustrating dirty dreams for three fucking months. “About having a salacious affair where we sneak around behind our friends’ backs and sleep together whenever I’m in town?” she pressed when he didn’t answer. “Yes. I remember.” Too well. He was incredibly pissed about how often he’d replayed that conversation and how restless he’d been waiting for her to call or come back to Autre. He didn’t pine for women. Ever. He did the opposite of that. But now she was here. And Knox wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Her showing up unannounced wasn’t unusual. Fiona Grady rolled into Autre without warning more often than not in her grape-soda-purple truck that sent his heart hammering and cock hardening. But it had been three months since he’d seen her. Since they’d talked. Since he’d had any clue what she was doing, where she was, how she was. Suddenly, she was on his doorstep asking about their plan to bang whenever she was in town for a couple of days? “Okay, well, there’s something I need to tell you that will make you not want to do that anymore,” she said. “So I was wondering if maybe you wanted to get naked together once before I told you and ruined everything?” He opened his mouth to reply. Then shut it without a word. What the hell? He glanced over his shoulder. Three minutes ago, he’d been sitting at his kitchen table doing paperwork with a cup of coffee and listening to a podcast about new creative urban development ideas. Now the woman he was low-level obsessed with was on his porch asking if he wanted to have sex before she told him something that would make him not want to have sex with her anymore. He ran a hand through his hair. This was why Fiona Grady was no good for him. She came into his carefully controlled and organized life and made things chaotic and messy. “Are you sick?” he asked. “Sick? No.” “Dying?” “No.” “Is anyone dying?” “No.” “Are you married?” He braced himself. He knew very little about this woman, actually, and if she belonged to someone else, he’d… leave her alone. And hate that man. And never forgive her for stirring him up like this. “Absolutely not.” “Engaged?” “No.” Okay, that was all…way too much of a relief. He should not be this happy to hear that. “Did you kill someone?” he asked. She tipped her head, her mouth curling. “Is that a definite deal-breaker?” No, probably not. Knox narrowed his eyes. “No, I haven’t killed anyone.” “Are the Feds looking for you? Or will I be implicated in some kind of crime if I let you in?” “Not that I’m aware of.” “That’s not a no.” “I’m just being honest.” Fair enough. Fiona was a wild animal advocate. The type of person to show up at roadside petting zoos and ‘circuses’ to monitor how the animals were treated and hand out literature to people attending the events, raising awareness about the poor conditions and treatment of those animals. She showed up to help rescue and care for animals, wild and domestic, after natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. She regularly lobbied local, state, and even the national government for animal protections. The chance that she could have done something in the “gray area” for one of her causes was pretty good. The problem with that was he knew that wouldn’t keep him from wanting her. She was precisely the kind of woman he should be avoiding. He studied her face for another long moment, then gave in to the inevitable. He pushed his door open. “Yeah?” she asked. “Yeah.” She wasn’t dying, wasn’t married, and hadn’t killed anyone. And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted another woman in his life. So how was he possibly going to shut the door on her? After three months of missing her? He wasn’t that strong. Or stupid.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters. Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).
Kay Daniels Romance 