A Small Town, Second Chance, Firefighter, standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase.
She’s being suspected of setting her workplace on fire.
He needs to prove it wasn’t her.
Now he’s on a mission to convince the one that got away that they belong together.
Ashlynn Donovan’s life just hit rock bottom. She lost her job, there are no prospects on the horizon, and she just unknowingly flashed the hot new firefighter in town. This isn’t the first time she’s embarrassed herself in front of him, but she was prepared to react the same way she did years ago – by running away. But Reid’s persistent and isn’t ready to let her get away a second time.
Reid Baylor always hoped to return to Sweetbriar Ridge—the only place he’s felt a connection to after a lifetime spent moving from place to place. When he learns of an opening in the fire department, he jumps at the chance to return to the small town he wants to call home again. And just when he thinks life can’t get any better, he runs into the one girl he’s never been able to forget. But reminding Ashlynn of their embarrassing first meeting might not have been the best move, especially when he wants to prove that he’s the man for her.
When Ashlynn is suspected of arson for the fire at her former workplace, Reid’s dream of becoming a fire inspector is on the line—and so is any chance he had with Ashlynn. Will his chance at getting both his dream job and the girl of his dreams go up in flames?
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Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Title: Wild Ride Series: Rookie Rebels #9 Author: Kate Meader
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Hockey Romance, Single Mom Older Woman/Younger Man, He Falls First Release Date: March 26, 2024
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Chicago Rebels hockey player Dex O’Malley has been a naughty boy … again.
Only his latest stunt isn’t quite like when he was caught with his pants down at a nightclub or was cited for drag-racing on Lake Shore Drive or even that time he said a few critical things about his teammates on a hockey podcast. Oops. This time, Dex is in real trouble, the kind that could get him kicked off the team and out of the league. And that cannot happen. Hockey is the only thing he’s ever been good at. The only thing he cares about. He’ll do whatever it takes to rehab his rep, even if it means cleaning up dog poop and suffering the steely-eyed disapproval of his new no-nonsense “boss” at the animal shelter, Ashley Adams.
Ashley has enough on her plate between her low-paying job, her high-maintenance family, and a love life she’s trying to resurrect after her divorce. She’s already mom to an amazing nine-year-old; the last thing she needs is mothering a celebrity volunteer with more money than sense. But the troublemaking f-boy needs Ashley to sign off on his good deeds so he can get back to what he does best: lighting up lamps both on and off the ice. And while a guy like that could never interest her mind, it seems her body is not on the same page. Sure, Dex O’Malley is too young, too hot, too flighty for Ashley to take seriously, but maybe a brief ride on the wild side might fit the bill …
Only that’s not enough for Dex. What happens when this notorious player decides the older, single mom is the hottest woman he’s ever met and that he wants to light her lamp … forever?
This is where I admit I have most of the earlier Rookie Rebels books but haven’t yet read them….. so yeah, picking a book late in the series is very much me!!!
I loved Dexter & Ashley (& Willa!!) There was so much personal growth in this story – for all 3 of them – and it was fabulous to read.
Dex had so much emotional baggage from how he grew up and then seeing his past in his present, it would be a lot to deal with for anyone never mind a guy who still hadn’t made any kind of peace with his past and held on to some sense of misplaced guilt.
Ashley broke my heart a little. She was awesome but couldn’t see it as she’d had Willa young, kinda grew up with her daughter, was in a marriage that neither party was really invested in and when it ended her ex said some pretty horrible things. This lass needed someone who ‘saw her’ and thought she was as awesome as she was….. enter Dex!
Their initial meeting didn’t go so well but in all honesty, Dex needed someone like Ash who wouldn’t let him do what he wanted and who didn’t feed his ego. She made him think about his actions and their consequences!
Willa, oh sweet little Willa. She was a wee sweetheart and I understood how Dex fell for her as hard as he did for her momma. Willa was an older soul in little girl form but was so good and caring. She saw the good in Dex and wasn’t afraid to tell him what she believed.
This was a really great read. I felt fully invested in these three becoming a family – Along with Dexter’s teammates, their families and Dexter’s remaining family.
I’m definitely gonna be going back to read the rest of the players stories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AUTHOR BIO
Originally from Ireland, USA Todaybestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with big-hearted guys and strong heroines – and heroes – who can match their men quip for quip.
Title: Wanting the Player Series: Rules of the Game #2 Author: Heather Young-Nichols
Genres: Contemporary Sports Romance Tropes: Sworn Off Relationships/Afraid to Commit Release Date: March 25, 2024
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Vowing to never sleep with a baseball player might’ve been a curse upon myself.
Given that I suck at relationships, I’m perfectly happy to never be in one again. Men can’t be trusted. Or maybe it’s my heart that can’t be trusted. I don’t know. Either way, especially after the epic fail of a hook up last year with a baseball player that won’t leave me alone, baseball players are no longer an option.
Then Urban Briggs tells me, a stranger, that he’s going to make sure his teammate leaves me alone. Great. I could use the help. Except that player doesn’t leave me alone, and Urban ends up volunteering at the summer camp I’m working at. Of course, he does. His family’s charity runs the camp. Now, I can’t avoid him, and he’s too hard to ignore.
At first, Urban is fine with our arrangement. After all, he’s leaving as soon as the season ends if he has his way. He doesn’t want to leave behind any attachments, either. Sounds perfect, right? Wrong. Can I risk my heart one last time, or am I going to let the best thing in my life walk away?
Wanting the Player is book two in the Rules of the Game series and features a broody baseball player and a woman who isn’t supposed to fall in love who happens to work at his family’s summer camp, where he’s volunteering a little of his time, a standoffish heroine, lots of steam, and it wasn’t supposed to be you vibes.
Heather Young-Nichols is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. She writes swoony heroes and snarky heroines with a heap of romance.
When she’s not writing, she’s binging a show with her kids, watching baseball, or snuggling with her cuddly animals.
Title: Then Hate Me Series: Gilded Decadence #2 Author: Zoe Blake & Alta Hensley writing as Blake Hensley
Genre: Dark Billionaire Romance Tropes: Arranged Marriage/Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Release Date: March 22, 2024
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He dared to steal my bride, so it’s only fair I respond by kidnapping his innocent sister.
Only a monster with no morals would kidnap a woman from her brother’s wedding… Which was precisely what I’ve become, a monster bent on revenge.
After all, as the billionaire Marksen DuBois, renowned for being a jilted groom, my reputation and business were in tatters. There was nothing more dangerous than a man possessing power, boundless resources, and a vendetta.
I would torment him with increasingly degrading photos of his precious sister as I held her captive and under my complete control. She’d have no option but to yield to my every command if she wished to shield herself and her family from further disgrace.
She was just a captured pawn to be dominated, exploited, and discarded. Yet the more ensnared we become in my twisted game of revenge, the more my suspicions grow. As she fiercely counters my every move, I begin to question whether I’m the true pawn… ensnared by my queen.
New York’s elite play a dangerous game of shadows, hiding scandalous truths and illicit desires behind their opulent masks. Step into this intoxicating world of dark romance, masterfully crafted by USAT Bestselling authors, Zoe Blake and Alta Hensley, now co-writing as the enigmatic Blake Hensley.
Introducing Blake Hensley, the sinfully decadent dream project of best friends and USA TODAY bestselling authors, Zoe Blake and Alta Hensley.
Alta Hensley, renowned for her hot, dark, and dirty romances, showcases her distinctive blend of alpha heroes, captivating love stories, and scorching eroticism.
Meanwhile, Zoe Blake brings a touch of darkness and glamour to the series, featuring her signature style of possessive billionaires, taboo scenes, and unexpected twists.
Together, as Blake Hensley, they combine their storytelling prowess to deliver “Twice the Darkness,” promising sordid scandals, hidden secrets, and forbidden desires of New York’s jaded high society in their new series, Gilded Decadence.
Genre: Romantic Dark Fantasy/ Vampire romance; quest fantasy; Arthurian fantasy; touch her and die; one bed romance; Elder Scrolls, Buffy, and DnD inspired
The Princess Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass in this Breton-inspired fantasy debut brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance.
Lilac Trécesson is a prisoner in her parents’ castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father’s decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming noble bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst… Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever.
She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest Brocéliande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods.
With only the protection of her inherited dagger—and unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her quest—Lilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it.
This is the tale of a cursed princess, A crestfallen killer, The town that wants them to burn, And the witch who can save them both.
“Girl meets boy, girl turns out to be heir to the throne, boy turns out to be a centuries-old vampire…tale as old as time, right? Wrong. Sure, Disenchanted delivers all the explosive romantic energy you’d expect when a woman on a mission to save her kingdom gets mixed up with a reluctant bad boy bodyguard. But, Brianna Sugalski’s magical pen delivers so much more: adventure, intrigue, humor and the kind of deep and diverse world building that leaves you eager for more.” – Sean Gibson, Best selling author of The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True and The Camelot Shadow
“Sugalski’s writing is what predominantly adds the fantastical touches to this tale of risk and vulnerability. A lyrical prose coupled with vivid descriptions completely engulfs, effortlessly carrying away readers to another place and time. A straight-forward plot with the majority of its focus on the evolution of its characters transforms this epic romp into a very intimate illustration of personal growth and self-awareness. The mechanics used to build tension do so without flaw, which oftentimes had me audibly declaring “just one more chapter”. It’s easy to lose yourself in this world she’s created, and I honestly couldn’t ask for anything more.” – Justine Bergman, Whispers and Wonder
“After being in a considerable fantasy slump this year and being underwhelmed by the depictions of vampires amidst their supposed resurgence in YA, I was pleasantly surprised to find Disenchanted. It feels like the love child of Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash and Buffy the Vampire Slayer—two things you should know that I hold in the highest regard. It’s such a strong debut… and I’m already anticipating the next book from Sugalski.” – Meg, A Little Shelf Righteous
Author Bio:
Brianna Sugalski is a multi-genre Dark Romantasy author with a soup addiction, who has spent much time creating TTRPG characters who never get played, so she puts them in books.
Also a history student and developmental editor specializing in Sword & Sorcery SFF, Sugalski spends her free time reading about diversity in the Late Middle Ages and within the realm of Arthuriana.
Sugalski lives in oversized sweaters and prefers exploring the more ominous—disenchanting, if you will—undertones of history, romance, and the arcane.
I accidentally bid on a date with hockey star Rake Hanson, AKA Mr. Puck-Head, at a charity auction.
Now I’m stuck with him.
He’s the poster boy for everything I can’t stand in a guy – sports nut, ego, and that annoying thing called charm.
Some “prize.”
While his grunts and one-word answers threaten to drive me up the wall, at least he’s nice to look at with those broad shoulders, strong jawline, and big… hands. Regardless, he’s an unrepentant grouch. If he ever smiles, I have no doubt his face will crack.
Our date, where I must beam for the cameras and pretend I don’t loathe every second of it, is destined to be a frosty disaster. It goes even worse than I imagine, involving a chartered flight to Vegas, too many cocktails at a roulette table, a wedding chapel, and a couple drunken “I do’s.”
And now his sports agent won’t let me dump his sorry ass until the end of the season.
So I, Petal Parker, am stuck in this bizarro world of stinky jocks, gossip columns, and flashy parties.
But the touches… and the glances… threaten to melt the hard ice around my heart. As the final buzzer of the season nears, I find my fake relationship with Mr. Puck-Head skating dangerously close to scoring the real thing. Ditching my fake husband is suddenly no longer as urgent as his deep, sexy kisses.
“Hey, Petal. When was the last time you did something completely out of character? Like batshit crazy, unconventional, and spontaneous?”
My mouth opens, then closes again, like a gasping fish.
“Let your hair down, baby,” Rake says.
“It’s already down,” I say.
Truth be told, I don’t do a lot of crazy. But I’m not about to admit that to Rake and his friends. They already think I’m a charity date.
Wendy and Daria are at my side. “You know the saying, ‘when in Vegas,’ right?” Wendy asks, nudging me with a giggle.
“Yes, I’m familiar with it,” I say nervously.
This can’t be happening. My resolve is crumbling. Actually, really crumbling. The tequila shot, and the wine before it, has gone to my head, and I’m really, actually contemplating doing something only a fucking idiot would consider.
That’s me. A fucking idiot.
But I’ve been careful all my life. Made nothing but good decisions.
How often do I get to make such a gloriously bad one?
#2
I haven’t had balls this blue since I was a skinny sixteen-year-old trying to figure out how to get laid.
And it fucking sucks.
Sure, I could go get off with some other chick. There’s certainly no shortage of women dying take off their panties to spend time with a high-profile athlete.
That might be a shitty thing to say, but it’s true. Ask any of my teammates. Even the married ones have to fend off the women looking to hook up with a walking wallet.
That’s what I call us guys who have money.
And there was a time not very long ago when I would have taken one of these women up on their offer to relieve my aching balls. But, for some reason, the thought of that just isn’t holding the appeal it once did.
I blame it all on Petal. Petal Parker.
The ballbuster I never saw coming.
There’s no way to prepare yourself for a woman like her. She just appears on the scene one day, and you’re fucking smitten, and it’s hard to think of anything else.
It’s also hard to prepare for the fact that she couldn’t give a shit if I lived or died. I’m not used to that.
It’s humbling.
Embarrassing.
And driving me up a goddamn wall.
#3
“Are you teasing me?” I murmur.
He tilts his head. “Maybe,” he sing-songs. “Do you feel teased, Petal? Is there something you want that you’re not getting?”
He’s good. Very good.
“I… want more. I want you to touch me everywhere,” I breathe.
He presses his lips against my ear. “Good girl.” He grabs my jeans by the waistband and pulls me to him, hard, grinding his erection against me.
M. Lane is the not-so-stealthy alter ego of USA TODAY bestselling contemporary romance author Mika Lane. She’s OBSESSED with bringing you sassy stories with imperfect heroines and the hot dudes they bring to their knees.
Meet Eve, a wealthy heiress seeking the simplicity of a tranquil life in a country town, savoring the bliss of newlywed joy. But the idyllic beginning takes a dark twist when she is caught in the sinister web of a stranger named Jenkins.
Trapped in his home, surrounded by eerie reminders of Jenkins’s late wife, taxidermied deer heads bear silent witness as Eve and others become pawns in a chilling game of control and twisted desire.
As Jenkins’s tangled mind unravels, Eve’s ray of hope emerges in Mira, a fellow captive. Together, they forge a bond in the face of relentless terror—an alliance that might be their ticket to survival.
Yet, as they plot their daring escape, Eve’s mind becomes a battleground of manipulation, deception, and shocking revelations. Jenkins’s motives are more complex than she imagined, and she must navigate carefully to outsmart the mind of a psychopath.
𝘐 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘙𝘶𝘯 is a spine-tingling psychological thriller delving into the darkest corners of the human mind. With relentless suspense, twisted characters, and thought-provoking themes, this gripping novel will keep you guessing until the final, shocking revelation. Brace yourself for a psychological rollercoaster that will linger in your thoughts long after the final page is turned.
I’m a famous TV star—how hard can it be to pretend that real love is fake?
To women around the world, I’m Dr. Dark and Dangerous, sexiest bachelor alive.
I meet the only one who has no idea who I am. To single mom Aspen, I’m just the guy who rocked her world one night. Nothing more.
With the tabloids out to destroy my career and a movie deal on the line, I need help. I need a girlfriend to improve my image. Since the only one I want won’t do a real relationship, she agrees to be my fake girlfriend. Except the more time we’re together, the more we blur the lines between what’s real and what’s fake.
Because how I feel for her isn’t pretend at all.
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A USA Today bestseller, Vanessa Vale writes tempting romance with unapologetic bad boys who don’t just fall in love, they fall hard. Her books have sold over one million copies. She lives in the American West where she’s always finding inspiration for her next story. While she’s not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.
Title: Reluctantly Royal Series: Royals Gone Rogue #1 Author: Erin Nicholas writing as Erin Nicolle
Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: March 14, 2024
Tropes: Royal/Commoner, Marriage of Convenience, Age Gap, Woman in STEM, Opposites Attract
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A marriage proposal from a deliciously handsome and wickedly charming prince sounds like a fairytale.
But for a nerdy scientist with severe social anxiety, it’s a horror story.
Prince Torin O’Grady, with his mischievous blue eyes and cocky grin, is always in the spotlight. And he needs to marry me to inherit the crown.
But we have nothing in common. He’s a future king. And I’m perfectly happy slogging through mud in my work boots.
So why can’t I stop thinking about him?
Maybe because he won’t stop texting me. And sending me gifts. And making me feel like everything I find awkward and weird about myself is special and amazing.
And there’s also that little detail of him offering me my dream job and telling me that together we can change the world.
Well, I could probably 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 for him.
And if I have to marry him temporarilyto get what we both want, then fine. It’s for the greater good.
It has nothing to do with the way he kisses me. Or that dirty mouth. Or the royal treatment he gives me in the bedroom.
Fine. Maybe it does. Still, it’s only a year. Then I can turn in my tiara and come back to my normal, boring, behind-the-scenes life.
But Torin is determined to turn me from reluctantly royal to royally his.
Erin Nicolle is the new pen name for NYT and USA Today Bestselling romance author Erin Nicholas. While Erin Nicholas is known for her blue-collar book boyfriends and big, boisterous found families in small towns, Erin Nicolle writes rich and royal rogues. But they both love a dirty talking cinnamon roll, a grump who is reluctantly wrapped around a feisty finger, and a gruff, protective guy who falls first and hard.
She thinks happily ever after only happens in romance novels. He can’t wait to prove her wrong…
Falling in love is not on Raven Walsh’s agenda. Running from her past keeps her way too busy for that. She can, however, handle a friends-with-benefits scenario with the hot billionaire who co-owns The Back Door bar. But trusting him with her heart? Not a chance…
Remington Sterling has had his eye on the smart and sexy Raven since she started waitressing at his bar. He knows she’s gun-shy where relationships are concerned. But he’s ready to do whatever it takes to convince her he’s worth the risk…
When Raven’s secrets catch up to her in a big way, she must decide if the potential cost of trusting Remy is more than she’s willing to pay—and Remy will need to figure out how far he’s willing to go for love…
Just One More Moment, book 1 in the Sterling Family series (all can be read as standalones), is a spicy contemporary romance featuring a ready-to-run heroine and the possessive, protective alpha hero who is more than ready to catch her.
Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.
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