A jaded single dad. A woman returning to her small-town roots. Neither was prepared for their paths to collide…
I should have known I was in trouble when I backed my old, beat-up truck into the shiny Range Rover.
The driver looked like a gorgeous fallen angel – one who’d been booted right out of paradise for being a giant prick.
Good thing I’ll never have to see him again.
Except when I show up for my new job to teach a little girl how to ride her horse, I find the same icy blue eyes glaring back at me.
Paisley Dae is completely reckless. She’s also the best trainer in this small town. And Evelyn gets the best.
Protecting the little girl is my one focus.
Only the sassy trainer in her cut-offs and cowgirl boots quickly gets under my skin. Distractions are dangerous, but she soon becomes everything I crave.
One reckless night of giving in, and Caleb and I spiral into a web of passion.
But when I begin to unravel the secrets hiding in this place, I find there is more riding on this job than I thought.
Caleb and Evelyn are worth any sacrifice – only Caleb has to decide what he will sacrifice for me…
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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
Title: The Sex Variable Series: Romancing the Geek #2 Author: Emi Leon
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Forbidden Love/Women in STEM/Age Gap Cover Design: Melody Jeffries Release Date: June 15, 2023
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What’s a little secret when the chemistry is off the charts?
Everyone has a dream. Mine is to make perfume, where the science of aroma converges with the art of experience.
To fund my new business, I join a paid drug trial that’s for her pleasure, if you know what I mean. I figure the risks are worth it, but the one variable I didn’t factor in is biochemist Dr. Bradley Zimmer.
After taking my first dose, I literally run into the man of my dreams, a hot geek, who catches me. His disastrous style can’t hide the kindness behind his glasses, and he’s irresistibly appealing. But I’m running late, so I don’t get his name.
When our paths cross again, it’s like magic between me and the gorgeous geek aka Bradley. Despite our age gap, every touch between us is electric. I’ve never felt like this. Is it real or is this the trial’s little blue pill for v@ginas?
But after I learn dating Bradley is off-limits as a trial participant, I have to decide: perfume or my hotty scientist. I want both, so when he mistakenly assumes why I’m at his pharmaceutical company, I don’t correct him.
What’s a little secret when the chemistry is off the charts?
But, like any explosive reaction, the truth invariably comes out… Can we survive the unexpected results of this love equation?
Sex, science, scents, and secrets—a formula designed to either ignite passion or combust spectacularly.
Emi Leon lives in Washington state and writes steamy rom-coms. She believes love and laughter go hand-in-hand. Nerdy and grumpy heroes are her favorites. The fact she married one has nothing to do with it. She’s a STEM girl turned romance writer, who hangs out in coffee shops reading. Just look for the woman in smart girl glasses and ponytail with a steaming beverage in front of her, who may blush when she gets to the good parts (i.e. sexy times.) She thinks everyone needs a happily ever afters. And a dog. Oh, a cat, too!
Title: An Inconvenient Marriage Author: A.K. MacBride
Genre: Billionaire Romance Trope: Arranged Marriage Release Date: May 25, 2023
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He wanted revenge but found her instead.
Revenge is finally within reach when the man I ache to ruin offers his daughter for marriage. A woman who stands for everything I despise but, in a strange twist of fate, turns out to be nothing like the ugly rumors surrounding her.
Her warm smile and kind heart chip at the walls I so dutifully erected around my heart. And as they crumble to the ground piece by miserable piece, secrets from our pasts emerge and threaten to destroy us.
The right thing would be to walk away, to let go of my need for revenge. But I can’t. I won’t.
Even if it means destroying her–destroying us–in the end.
**An Inconvenient Marriage has previously been published in 2018. And although the core of the story remains the same, a lot has changed. With almost 30k added to the initial story, readers both old and new can jump in and enjoy the tension-filled ride Zach and Natalie take to their happily ever after.
Introducing A.K. MacBride, whose pen flows with love, passion, and longing.
When she’s not busy crafting captivating love stories, you can find her indulging in her two guilty pleasures – a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a decadent piece of dark chocolate.
Hailing from a quaint small town in South Africa, she finds inspiration in the charming beauty of her surroundings and the warmth of her family. Speaking of family, she shares her cozy abode with her loving husband and adorable daughter—and don’t forget the two lovable furbabies—who never fail to inspire her writing.
With her heart on her sleeve and her pen in hand, she weaves tales of heartbreak, forgiveness, and true love. Join her on a journey of passion, romance, and pure bliss, and experience love like never before.
Genre: Contemporary Ménage Romance Release Date: May 25, 2023
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It should have been an in-and-out job Find the girl and bring her home. But we’re not the only ones who came for her And when our rescue mission goes horribly wrong, We find ourselves stranded and alone in the unforgiving jungle. With death stalking our heels Every day becomes a battle for survival A battle not all of us will win.
They pulled me from the clutches of a madman Risking their lives to keep me safe Just a pretty girl with an odd name and strange eyes They don’t know why I was captured or why I’m being hunted They don’t know the things I done, the things I’ve seen But it’s safer this way because if they knew the truth They’d become collateral damage Or worse, they might just hunt me too.
Authors note: The Brutal Strike is a ménage romance intended for 18+ readers.
Trigger warning: As with most of my books, The Brutal Strike contains some scenes that readers may find upsetting, so please proceed with caution.
Candice Wright is the international bestselling author of the Underestimated Series. Hailing from the UK, Candice lives with her three slightly unhinged children and the long-suffering partner. When she isn’t busy raising the next generation of crazy, you can find her sitting at the computer writing words she hopes will resonate or snuggled up reading stories by the authors that cultivated her love of the written word.
Title: The Trade Series: Underdogs #2 Author: Kata Čuić
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance Tropes: Second Chance/Fake Relationship Release Date: May 18, 2023
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What’s a woman to do when she’s faced with the impossible decision to give an old flame a second chance?
Shore up her defenses to ward off his charms, of course.
Once upon a time, Merrick Jovanovitch was my everything. I fell fast and hard and forever. Then, I pushed him away. The end.
He’s suddenly back in my life, the newest addition to my fresh-start city’s football team. When I’m blackmailed by a vicious wife of one of Merrick’s teammates to help the team land a reality TV series, I don’t have the option to run from my problems this time. The secret I’ve been keeping from Merrick for three long years needs to stay where it belongs—in the past. With pressure mounting on my unsteady shoulders, I need a release valve to keep juggling all these very fragile plates.
Enter jagoff42. Yeah. That’s…an online handle from a language-learning app.
I know it sounds bananas but hear me out. My internet pen pal is the only man for this job because he’s a third-party bystander with no skin in the game. I don’t have to worry about him getting hurt or spilling my deepest, darkest secrets to anyone. Because we’ve never actually met.
No, I don’t know his real name. No, I don’t know if he’s a creepy old dude. No, I don’t know if he lives in his mother’s basement. He’s only ever told me that he’s close. So, yeah. He’s probably creepy.
The only problem with all these brilliant plans? To land the new reality series for the team, Merrick and I have to rekindle our relationship. For the cameras. That’s fine. As long as I remember all of our kisses are for show, I can get through this.
Even though he lights my body up like a five-alarm fire. Even though more and more of our kisses are in private instead of in public. Even though I swore to myself that I’d never give my heart away again.
Merrick can’t be my happily ever after. I walked away the first time for a reason. Right?
Kata Čuić lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and three teens. No one told her life was gonna be this way. She holds a degree in Linguistics with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Her plans of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon were foiled by OChem 1. Fortunately, she’d been making up stories in her head since the days of her imaginary friend, Choosy. Putting pen to paper, er…fingers to the keyboard…came surprisingly naturally after her aforementioned teens decided it was time for them to cut their respective cords.
Kata writes everything from angst-filled YA series to standalone rom-coms and has been known to dabble in a bit of paranormal on the free stories section of her website. She believes nice guys shouldn’t have to finish last (except in the bedroom where she prefers an alpha between the sheets but a gentleman in the streets), and that the surest way to a woman’s heart is through laughter and food.
I love my job. Bartending is more than just serving drinks to customers at the hottest bar and restaurant in Stewart Grove. It’s the people I work with and those I meet along the way. I know how to have a good time. Just one flirty little grin and the ladies are like putty in my hands. But they know the score: I’m a one and done guy, not looking to ever fall into the trap of love.
Then, a sweet, gorgeous coworker needs help, and I find myself offering up more than I should.
With Cameron Wright temporarily living with me, pretending to be my girlfriend, the lines begin to blur fast. She’s in my space and I suddenly have free rein to hold and kiss her.
Helping her might very well be my downfall.
Cameron
I keep to myself. Despite working as a server at the popular gourmet burger joint, I make sure my eyes are always ahead, focused on the prize: make enough tips to pay off my debts. When you carry around this much guilt every day, the weight slowly starts to drag you down, but I’m determined. My past will not define me.
Until one day, that past returns and is ready to rekindle our old relationship.
Cocky playboy Kellen McGregor steps up, not only offering a place to stay, but also a way to put space between me and my ex. Problem is, in no time, I find I like being with him.
I just need to remember he’s not the forever kind of guy.
GUSA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
Jewelry heiress Lucienne Peery needs a husband in order to take full control of her company and arranges for a mutually beneficial marriage. When she catches her fiancé in bed with her sister, she demands to marry his older brother instead. And his family agrees to avoid handing over 30% of their own company for breaking the marriage contract.
She only plans to stay married until her control is firmly established. But she does the unthinkable and falls in love with her husband…
When the ruthless and iron-willed Sebastian Lasker is forced to marry a woman fully as scandalous as his embarrassing, disreputable father, he vows revenge. Nobody manipulates him and gets away with it. He’s going to strip her of what she wants from the marriage and get rid of her.
But pride and fortune aren’t the only things at stake as he realizes he can’t let her go…
Contractually Yours is full of a yummy arranged marriage, dislike-to-love, forced proximity, my wife moments, man-grovel and a happy ending.
My ex gives me a once-over and smirks. “Oh, I get it. Looking for a husband.”
I try not to snort. He doesn’t watch the news—thinks it’s boring—and his family apparently hasn’t updated him about my new status. Maybe they disowned him. Wouldn’t that be great?
He continues, “I don’t know why you waste your time like this. Look, I’m happy to let it go if you’ll just see the light and change your mind about our—”
“Don’t hold your breath.” He’s dumber than I thought, bringing up the engagement when I still can’t find enough mind bleach to erase seeing him with my sister.
“There you are,” comes Sebastian’s voice from behind me. “Oh, hello, Preston.”
When he stops next to me, I put my arm around his waist. “What perfect timing.” I smile up at him.
He gives me a mildly curious look, but wraps an arm around my shoulders.
See? This is what you get when you’re with a smart man. He knows the role you’d like him to play without your having to spell it out. The fact that he’s willing to play along without some prior commitment to reciprocate warms my heart. So many people want something first before doing anything for me.
Preston’s brow knits as he takes in the tableau. “You guys are together?”
I triple the wattage of my smile. “Preston, have you met my husband, Sebastian Lasker?”
“What?” His shout rings in the wide-open space. “You can’t marry him!”
“I can’t? Oh, that’s too bad.” I tighten my hold on Sebastian, pressing my side against his. “’Cause I kinda already did.” I extend my left hand, so Preston can see my gorgeous Toi et Moi ring and the wedding band.
Sebastian flashes his as well. Man, we make a great team.
Preston blinks rapidly, his eyes fixed on our hardware. Finally, he jerks his head up, his face blotchy. “Why would you want him when you could have me?”
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I ask.
“I can see well enough to know those diamonds are tiny compared to the one I was going to give you!” He points at my finger.
I drop my gaze to his crotch for a second before lifting it back up. “His is both bigger and better than yours.”
Preston looks like he just got punched in the face by Mike Tyson. Sebastian shakes against me in silent laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Preston snarls.
“You.” Sebastian lets the laugh out. “You’re third-rate comedy, but at least you’re entertaining.” He wipes tears from his eyes.
Preston turns to me. “You bitch! It’s all your fault he’s mocking me!”
Sebastian steps forward, pulling away from my arm around his waist, as the mirth melts from his face. “Watch your tone if you want to keep your teeth. Nobody talks to my wife with disrespect.”
I pat his back a few times, to let him know it isn’t necessary for him to react like this. Part of me is flattered and moved that he’s defending me, but another part feels a bit unworthy of his protection because… Well, I did force him to marry me.
Preston slashes the air with his arm. “She’s my fiancée!”
“She was. You call my wife your fiancée again, and I’ll break your face.”
AUTHOR BIO
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.
Title: Naughty & Nice A Man of the Month Sycamore Mountain Series Novella Author: LM Fox
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Small Town Release Date: September 15, 2022
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Trevor
I came to Sycamore Mountain to start over. Focus on my career, not little miss sunshine. The brotherhood of firefighters is the only relationship I want. Trust me. This tart is the last thing I need.
I’ve been down that road. Beautiful girl who can have any man she wants.
Well Addie Briggs can focus on someone else. No sultry siren is worth going through that heartache again, no matter how naughty I think she could be.
Addison
Of all the men to fall for, I have to pick a grumpy hero.
He’s the hottest thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on, throw on his fireman turnout gear and I’d do almost anything he asked.
But this guy is jaded and scarred. He fights me at every turn. Yet, I can tell there’s a softness under his tough exterior. I’m going all in. Because I’m not ready to give up on Mr. Nice guy.
“What the fuck, Ashley?” “Trevor. What are you doing here?” “Last I checked, I live here,” I shouted as the burley naked jock before me hastily reached for his pants. He looked like a linebacker. The thought had barely left me before I noticed his shirt. The big W insignia confirmed he was most likely on the Washington football team. While visiting the training camp in Richmond had long been on my bucket list, I now wanted to kick that fucking pail down the road. “I thought you’d be at work.” “Obviously. How long has this been going on?” All thoughts of grabbing my assignment for my IT class were gone. “I was going to tell─” “Trev, we’ve got a call,” Jamie yelled through the door. I turned to notice he’d paused briefly to verify what he was seeing. “When I get here in the morning, I want your stuff gone,” I’d spat.
That painful memory is charred into my brain. The betrayal made worse when Jamie later confirmed her lover was NFL player Martin North. He was 250 pounds of raw muscle. Nosey neighbors confided later he’d been visiting my home for months. I wondered why she wouldn’t have broken it off with me instead of sneaking around with a baller worth millions. Until Jamie’s continued investigation revealed, the player was just that. A married celebrity who was having an affair with my girl.
Since then, he’s left his wife and children, and he and Ashley have been on the local tabloid circuit. I couldn’t turn on the television or open a local magazine without seeing the two of them. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Ashley’s face was plastered on every billboard in town. If she wasn’t modeling jewelry for anyone traveling the interstate to see, she was painted on restaurant murals and large airport advertisements. She was fucking everywhere.
I’m aware I was partially to blame. I dove in headfirst. But there was never a moment I didn’t think both of us were all in. She’d wax poetic about our future, travel, and eventually having kids. But I guess it’s hard to compete with a larger-than-life superstar with a bank account to match.
I hadn’t had many serious relationships prior to Ashley. My plate had been full, beginning my career with the fire department and looking out for my mother. My dad had fought a hard battle with melanoma. They discovered it too late to offer much hope of recovery. Cancer instantly decimated our flawless life. We’d gone from a tight family focused on Sunday dinners and the arrival of Noah’s kids to heartbroken in the blink of an eye.
My mother was tough as nails, but I knew it was a façade. Noah’s wife, Becca, would try to bring the boys over to distract her grief-ridden thoughts, but I imagined the lonely, depressing time between visits was suffocating. Unable to bear the thought of her hurting alone, I decided to move back home, convincing my mother I wanted to save money with plans to pursue my graduate degree. Hell, there’s no faster way to kill your sex life than living with your parents. But I slept better at night, knowing it was the right thing to do. I’ll always treasure that time with my mom.
Caring for her as we mourned my father, we grew even closer. We’d always had a tight relationship, but you don’t truly appreciate your parents until life throws you a curveball. I’d been blessed with a happy, loving cohesive family and knew I’d never settle for anything less if I chose to marry. Moving to Sycamore Mountain would be hard on both of us. In hindsight, it’s clear I was merely mesmerized by Ashley’s physical splendor. Visits with my nephews hadn’t brought out her maternal side. However, like me, I figured she was at a different stage of life. She was focused on her modeling career. I’m not making this mistake twice. Getting caught up with some superficial bitch who’d leave the moment someone with a better reputation or bank account came along.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize what good time I’d been making. My eyes land on the bright green highway sign. ‘Welcome to Sycamore Mountain.’ Exiting the interstate, I quickly determine this is a one-horse town. As I approach the light at the end of the off-ramp, there’s a lone gas station, and I spot a fast-food restaurant across from a bait and tackle shop. Luckily, according to the GPS, the realtor’s office is only about ten minutes away. Miles of desolate farmland interspersed with clusters of evergreen trees engulf the windows of my vehicle. Occasional picturesque hay bails are dotted amongst the tall grass, but otherwise, the scenic area is enchanting. Unspoiled by the strip malls and housing developments of Hanover. There’s not a billboard in sight. This thought briefly brings a relieved smile to my face until it dawns on me that I probably stand a better chance of meeting a bear in this town than a beautiful woman. I might’ve had a better chance of getting laid living with Mom than here.
As I continue down the road, I stand corrected. There’s at least one female under sixty here. I spot a woman out for a walk with her baby along the grassy edge of the highway. Looking about, it seems an odd place to meander. While wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, I’m surprised at my fixation on her. I’m not usually into MILF’s. I’m in no way ready to settle down with a girl with a kid. But she’s got a fucking phenomenal ass. It’d be a crime not to look. As I grow closer, my eyes are drawn to the face of the child looking back at me. That’s either the ugliest kid on the planet or… Is that a chicken?
AUTHOR BIO
Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Talon Pack, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She’s the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over one hundred novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
Like many of the people in Screaming Woods, I’m cursed. My plight goes beyond my hooved feet, horns and my tail. My problem–my curse– is a different kind of hard. The perpetually stiff kind of hard, if you know what I mean. Only true love can give me “release.” I know it’s too much to hope the pretty, curvy human is my fated mate. One touch and I could lose all control, and I can’t risk hurting her.
Harriet
Ever since my best friend fell in love with a monster, I’ve wanted one of my own. I’ve gone out with a few, but no one gets my heart racing like the brooding, mysterious satyr. Jace refuses to give me a chance though. I know he wants me, I can see the heat simmering in his gaze. We just need some alone time. Yeah, kidnapping him might be an extreme, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do…
USA Today Bestselling Author Kat Baxter writes fast-paced, sweet & STEAMY romantic comedies. Readers have dubbed her books “laugh-out-loud funny,” “hot enough to melt your kindle,” and “The Queen of Adorkable.” She lives in Texas with her family and a menagerie of animals. Kat is the pseudonym for a bestselling historical romance author.
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