JAKE - Family Bonds by Elizabeth Jacobs

I’ve never wanted a girlfriend. I’m happy with my life—working on the ranch, spending time with my brothers and sister, and enjoying the freedom to hook up with whoever I want. But then my boss hires a nanny for his kids. Amber is sweet and pure, and grew up under the strict guidance of her religious parents. A girl like her has no business getting involved with someone like me. I know I should keep my distance. But when Amber confides in me that she wants to break free from her parents’ control and explore what life has to offer, how the hell am I supposed to resist?

The Sanctity of Marriage by Amelia Winkle

Rose Wilson has held on to the promise of true love – fairytale love that lasts forever – into her mid-thirties, but her choices in men leave her hopeless in that regard. After deciding that she will never date again, and inspired by her lifelong friends Leann and Penelope, Rose undertakes a new mission, to unequivocally reject the idea of love and marriage. With the help of her friends, Rose works towards breaking the world record of 29 marriages. Society’s expectations of marriage can be a problem, however. Rose and her friends discover that it’s not easy to find 27 men who can be satisfied with a marriage in legality only. Some long for a lasting relationship, some want money, and some just want to be a part of the action. She also meets the man of her dreams, which proves to be a bigger problem in her life. With these challenges, but with her friends always by her side, Rose fights towards the finish line.

A Bend In The Future by Abby Brown

Tammy's move to the city opens secrets hidden from her, many on the horse farms around her. Some secrets her family thought she knew. Others, they hoped would never affect her. Building a future means forging unexpected bonds and traveling roads she never imagined.

The Sins of Mrs. Ema by Mirela Kanini

The Sins of Mrs. Ema is a provocative novel by author Mirela Kanini about true happiness in life. Is it money or love? How do we balance having a devoted husband and then finding the right person at the wrong time? How far will we go for love? Ema seems to have it all. She is a successful psychologist, married to a business man, and lives in a mansion in a desirable neighborhood. She has everything one could want, from luxury cars, to a vacation home, to trips to the most exotic places. Her marriage has lost its passion and is dulled by routine. But one business trip to her hometown changes everything. Her life shifts from a quiet, suburban one to a passionately dangerous one. She meets Toni, the love of her life. She risks everything she has to follow her heart. She is caught between the man who cares about her and the man she truly loves. What if she loses it all at the end? Unpredictable, heartbreaking! An affair to remember! This is a brilliant psychological romance!

Cracks In The Wall by Abagail Brown

Survivors know no other life. Abuse often starts before awareness of self, and others. Abuse is normalized. Questions lead to life threatening consequences. A few escape. Read their histories. Recognize those you know who may need a nudge to acknowledge the abuse they suffer from in their daily lives. Prevent continuing the vicious cycle of so many who merely exist throughout their lives.

Kin Strife by Abby Brown

Recording the village elder's life stories should be routine. Always on the outside of village life, looking in. Terra's rocked babies, cooked meals, written memories. Nothing more. Until now. Saving stories in a village of people lost between cultures interrupts her search for belonging. Their fragmented stream of life threatens all Terra knows of her own past, and future. She must tame the stream back into its banks to create a home she never dreamed existed.

If Only You Had Stayed by C. P. Ashton

Sarcastic. Scarred. Stuck. Charlie Foster is a disaster. Just ask her therapist. After high school, Charlie loaded what little she owned into her car, ripped off the proverbial rear view mirror, and drove out west with her angsty punk music blaring as loud as the speakers could handle. The falling out with her best friend, Skylar, right before graduation still haunts her ten years later. Now Charlie’s back in town for their high school reunion searching for answers, closure, and one last shot at Skylar’s heart. But Skylar may have moved on long ago—for better or worse. If Only You Had Stayed explores shattered first loves, fumbled second chances, and the inescapable external forces that shape a life.

The Student by Fern Goldstein

The Student takes readers inside the halls and classrooms of Abigail Adams Middle School on what turns out to be a terrifying and inexorable journey to the ending that is every teacher's and parent's nightmare. As we intimately experience the struggles of each of The Student's potential victims and of The Student himself, we feel teacher Sharon Bonavina’s frustrations as she tries desperately, but in vain, to reach The Student—until we end up cowering behind the way-too-thin wooden doors of Sharon’s classroom, watching the clock, wondering if help will arrive in time. Tick... Tick... Tick... We inhabit a world where children are shooting their teachers and other children as the people who should do something do nothing or don’t know what to do. As the other students in Sharon's classes all deal with their own problems and those brought on by the growing malevolence emanating from The Student, the book raises legal and ethical issues that urgently need answers; it raises awareness of mental health and the realities of what can and cannot be done in schools for students who struggle and for those who suffer because of them. It also makes us face fears that keep us up at night and trembling during the day.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

Ten years into their marriage, Lenore’s relationship with her husband, Henry, has soured, and no child has arrived to fill the distance between them. Lenore’s frustration grows when Henry’s ambitions, both work and societal, take them out of London and into the countryside, to the imposing Nethershaw manor, where he is planning to host a hunt. Lenore keeps a terrible secret from the last time her husband hunted, and though they never speak of it, it haunts their marriage to this day. A carriage accident near their home soon brings the mysterious Carmilla into Lenore’s life. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night; Carmilla who will not eat meals with the family; Carmilla who stirs up a hunger deep within Lenore. Torn between regaining her husband’s affection and the desire Carmilla’s presence awakens in her, Lenore begins to unravel her past. Her search leads her to uncover a darkness in her household that’s set on destroying her. Hungerstone is a mesmerizing reclamation of the lesbian vampire trope, set against the backdrop of the voracious appetite of the Industrial Revolution.

The Early Girls by Yvette Joy Liebesman

The reunion of six women who bonded in nursery school is interrupted when one of them is kidnapped, and the friends plot a daring rescue. The ransom: access to the priceless invention two of the Early Girls created. There is a deeper mystery, though—for years, women in the area have gone missing, and the Early Girls inadvertently discover how and why. The Early Girls: -Hannah-- even at age three she was the natural leader; -Isha-- the most confident of the group; at first glance she appeared shy, but her smile betrayed that; -Mina-- she was petrified of being abandoned; -Francie -- her parents realized too late that a second child required a lifestyle change; -Vicky-- by far the brightest of the girls, much to the disappointment of her parents; -Amber-- her parents kept having children that they didn’t want…. Together they are unstoppable.

The Fragile Humans We Are by V. Walker

Step into the delicate realms of emotion with the fragile humans we volume one, a poignant collection of poetry that navigates the intricate landscapes of love, grief, and depression. This collection invites readers on a transformative journey through the highs and lows of the human experience. In this beautifully crafted compilation, Walker delves into the complexities of love, loss, and being lost. the fragile humans we are, volume one is not merely a collection of poems. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, celebrating the capacity for healing that resides within us all. This first edition features 13 original illustrations, beautifully crafted for the fragile humans we are volume one.

The Owlbear and the Omens by Aengie Scevity

Imperial Princess Phosphoria of the Zekzterian Empire is desperate to survive the inevitable culling of her father’s harem, when an opportunity arises. In the conquered land of Great Leven, her dying brother is an heirless king until Phosphoria wins the right to his throne. To secure her rule, Phosphoria announces a tour of the country and trials for her hand, but when servants and nobles alike are murdered, she discovers that the harem she escaped might just be the key to stay the infighting. However, a queen’s harem will be no easy feat as the lords of Great Leven will never accept the proposal and Phosphoria is unable to lie; she is Blessed by the Owlbear, forced to see and speak only the truth. Further complications arise from rebels loyal to the usurped royal line, and the reappearance of the true heir: the Lost Prince Osbeorn Auber of Great Leven, whose coming was foretold in omens upon the wind. By marrying many, Phosphoria runs the risk of marrying the murderer in her midst, but she must fight tradition if she is to succeed against the rebels, the murderer, and the lords of Great Leven itself. As for Osbeorn, he must come to terms with the darkness of his past before he can look to the future of his country.

The Spectral Scoop by Leighton Rae Smith

Mansion makeover? More like mansion mystery! Kayla, a journalist with a nose for trouble (and maybe the handsome new man in town?), has her sights set on a renovation project with a secret past. Spooky sounds, a tight-lipped cousin, and a charming contractor with his own questions pull her into a whirlwind of renovation reveals and undeniable sparks. With Halloween approaching, can Kayla crack the code of Hickory Manor before it’s too late? Dive into this quirky love-at-first-sight renovation romance with a touch of the paranormal – it's history, mystery, and a happily ever after, all under one (very haunted) roof! The Spectral Scoop is the first installment in the Hickory Hill small-town paranormal romance series.

Standstill by A. R. Longo

After winning her first championship belt, emerging wrestling superstar Cara is forced to return home after the sudden death of her parent and see her estranged older disabled sister for the first time in over a decade. Standstill is a character study between an able person and a disabled person.

The Things We Lose in the Dark by Sayword B. Eller

Sexual abuse survivor Zedwynne doesn't need anyone. Except when she wakes up from a failed suicide attempt with nowhere else to go but back into the loving arms of an overbearing mother and overprotective sister, and back to the town that almost destroyed her. Despite best efforts to keep her head down and avoid people, Zedwynne becomes invested in the lives of many through work at a local diner, and her therapy group of fellow second chancers. As these relationships grow and become more complicated, Zed begins to realize life isn't about what happens to you, but what you do with what's left. As she starts to figure out how to handle what she’s been left with, Zedwynne learns the man who abused her is dying, and she must decide if she'll let him die without facing what he's done, or confront him and risk upending her precarious progress.

Redeem Me by Miranda Faye

Evelyn Mayhew knows two things. That it should be a blessing to be raised by a man of the Lord. And that it should be a privilege to be betrothed to a man of power. But when her awakening thoughts lead her not only away from the blind obedience she has been raised for but also toward a stranger offering her a glimpse of freedom, Evelyn is put at a crossroads. Should she choose the shelter of a life confined, or risk the unknown with the man who would set her world — and her heart — on fire?

The Other Side of the Looking-Glass by Dakota Jackson

Fifteen-year-old Naomi Nakano craves love and acceptance. She never knew her mother, her birth father is neglectful to say the least, and her guardian Matt isn’t exactly the traditional parent. So when she moves to a new town and finally makes a real friend, she can’t help but feel good about the attention her friend’s older brother, Wren, immediately gives her. He lavishes her with compliments and attention — and so what if he’s 25-years-old and she can’t tell anyone about him? At least she’s no longer an outsider. But as Naomi gets lulled into the intoxication of Wren’s attention, she fails to see how easy it is to lose her newfound sense of normalcy in all the lies. Now she must fight to maintain her secret at the same time she juggles hardship after hardship before she loses not only Wren, but herself, too. If you're a fan of compelling young adult fiction like Amber Smith's The Way I Used to Be, or thought-provoking literary fiction that dives deep into the complexities of love and identity like Kate Elizabeth Russell's My Dark Vanessa, then The Other Side of the Looking-Glass is a must-read for you.

The Truths We Make by Samantha Jon

EVANGELINE PIERCE knew falling in love with a Poe boy was a mistake. She knew it when she was seven and at twenty-seven, she knows it still. After eight years on her own, trying to leave behind the emotional wounds that just won’t heal, she’s called back to Dellbrook to mourn the death of PAXTON POE. In the halls of her childhood home lay memories she’d rather forget, and her ghosts aren’t the only ones demanding to be heard; Paxton has left a letter. One that his brother, OLIVER, insists reveals he didn’t just die. He was murdered. And Oliver can’t solve the riddle without her. As they delve deeper through clues, what happened to Paxton gets ever closer to being unveiled. But so do Oliver and Eve, bringing their history sharply into focus. For Eve to get closure, she must confront the past and the scandal that tore them all apart—no matter the cost. And to have any hope of solving the mystery of Paxton’s death, she must ask herself if generational chains can be broken and if love will ever be enough. But it’s a truth universally acknowledged, that you should believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see, especially when dealing with a Poe…

Even If We're Broken by A.M. Weald

Still reeling from being ghosted by her girlfriend, bioarchaeologist Kate Roth agrees to join an estranged colleague to teach at his field school at a Viking-age archaeology site in the wilds of Newfoundland. While welcoming the escape from Colorado where she’s been medicating resurfaced anxieties with wine and angry rock music, she’s wary of three important facts: 1) she’s had a crush on Viking Cowboy Ben for half her life, 2) Ben is a family man who lives in Norway, and 3) all her romantic relationships, and most friendships, seem to have an expiration date. For archaeologist Esben “Ben” Veholt, inviting the woman he’s been in love with since digging alongside her 23 years ago was, of course, the worst possible thing he could have done for himself. This summer was supposed to be his escape from reality: a love life in ruins, worsening body image issues, and a teenage daughter who suddenly wants nothing to do with him. When Kate accepts his offer, he intends to retain a professional relationship with her. A woman like Kate could never love him anyway—not with how much he’s changed inside and out. All seems fine on the surface as Kate and Esben’s friendship rebuilds, but as they dig deeper, they realize just how broken they both are. To heal from their painful pasts and reclaim their crumbling presents, they each need a friend who accepts them, mess and all. But summer won’t last forever, and a third chance at romance threatens to drift across the ocean yet again.

Red Gifts in the Garden of Stones by P A Swanborough

It’s 1969. Distrust and arrogance are alive and well in the timeless bones and living stones of this close Welsh community, and the pagan ancestors aren’t as far in the past as people might think. It only takes a very small dog to inflame a monster… Suspiciously long-lived matriarch Lizzie Coombe expects her one-hundredth birthday to be a special day. She’s always kept aloof from the neighbours; hasn’t spoken to some for over 50 years, and cares even less for their opinions. But Reverent Morgan, latest in a long line of Morgan vicars at the tiny village chapel, is affronted by events. And he finds a ready audience for his hostility. Caught inside the haunted walls of the ancestral farmhouse, aristocratic Lizzie and her solid daughter Myfanwy only know long-dead love. Lizzie’s unstable granddaughter Sarah Maud is frightened of it. Great granddaughter Jenner doesn’t seem to need love at all; is she a wise woman, or a witch? As events and people spiral out of her accustomed control, Lizzie faces her own ghosts and sees she might have to do the unexpected: care for her family.

Till the Wishes Bloom by Montaha Nasr

In this homage to Arabic web novels, a dying wish results in an arranged marriage between a pharmacist and a man with whom she shares a complicated past. Eight years. That was how long Jihan Khalili spent under the umbrella of Al-Saif family, a product of her mother's marriage to the family's second-born heir. It was within those eight years, within that household, that Jihan experienced fleeting daydreams and inevitable heartbreak. Those days are long behind her, memories to collect dust. Now a pharmacist, Jihan spends her time navigating around curious neighbors, dismissing pointless proposals, and mulling over her workplace's status of paranormal activity. But then arrives Nadir, Al-Saif family's youngest heir, obliging her mother's dying wish by asking for Jihan's hand in marriage. He is insistent despite her warnings, and far too accommodating to her requests and terms. Is it all out of sense of duty, or is there another motive behind his pursuit? Perhaps this is the chance to mend an old heartbreak, to turn a daydream into a reality.

Love At Second Sight by Ayoka B.

Shane's life is full...of poetry, motherhood and friends. She is a Single Mom who is pensive, passionate and generous and loves her family. Having experienced loss and heartache, her trust must be earned. Enter Mike. He is talented, complicated and guarded. Their powerful connection changes their hearts and lives. A beautiful and layered story of artistry, relationships and love, this novel spans generations. Love At Second Sight will make you laugh, cry, and cheer and inspire you to rethink what it means to love.

Off Balance by Tiffany Costa

Juliette had plenty of love in her life. She owned and operated a a ballet studio bursting with students, parents, and staff that she adored. Sure, there was a gaping hole in the romantic love department, but she was happy. Everything was going right. Until her teenage student, Kelsey Delgato, revealed that she had been abandoned by her mother and needed a place to stay. With a birth certificate in hand naming a man Kelsey didn’t recognize as her father, Juliette tracks him down and makes the call. Only to find out that Caleb Ramirez didn’t know Kelsey existed either. After the shock of a lifetime and a move across the country, Caleb Ramirez is thrown even farther off balance when his alliance with Juliette begins to feel a little more like friendship. Then a bit like attraction. And then a lot like love. Thrown together by circumstance, the three navigate the unknown together in this heartfelt, raw story about whether genetics really does play a role in family and whether or not we can choose who we love.

The Crimson Walls of Algorath by Enna Hawthorn

When sand turns crimson and walls become cages, only love can keep them from breaking. Lady Ariadne Caldwell, the Golden Rose of Valenul, received everything she could desire from the courting Season: freedom from the Society’s expectations, a doting husband, and the inner strength to overcome the horrors of her past. With Lord Azriel Caldwell’s bond sated and his darkest secrets revealed to his new wife, he can finally settle into his new life. Everything is as it should be. When the newlyweds are torn apart by revenge, however, their plans for a peaceful future disappear. Exposed and arrested, Azriel is sent to Algorath’s infamous Pits to serve out his prison sentence through trial-by-combat. But Ariadne is determined to save her husband from certain death and must leave everything and everyone she loves behind—including her sister, bound for a dangerous marriage. As Azriel struggles to stay alive, he’s faced with challenges he thought were long since put to rest: a crumbling bond and an old enemy sworn to kill him. Ariadne must act quickly to free him, for even if he survives the fights, the bond may damage him beyond repair.

Holland, My Heart by Jennifer J. Coldwater

You know that stress inventory you can take? You get one point each for a long list of disastrous life events? Let’s just say I have lost count. In the last year alone I’ve lost my husband (and his brother), sold our home, moved across the country, quietly quit my job, watched my closest friend-slash-sister-in-law move out of the country, and… well, I guess that’s it. Could be worse, right? So, here I am. My name is Holland Gallagher and I'm a twenty-seven-year-old MBA with no job and a broken heart. Which, of course, is when my best friend-slash-mother-in-law Naomi introduces me to her oldest and dearest friend, Kai Ipu. He’s the empirically attractive Black-slash-Samoan CEO of a corporate consulting firm (think a started-in-his-dorm-room company with an eye to making corporations better citizens of the world). But I’m a mess and he’s significantly older than I am. So, I don’t have to worry about that, right? You’d think. He just invited me to join his company. I’m never one to turn down a challenge… so, here goes everything. Loosely based on the Bible book of Ruth (but with f-bombs from Kai, Holland’s drunken confessions of adoration, and one spicy sex scene), Holland, My Heart is the first in a collection of biblical women’s stories retold as contemporary romance. Holland, My Heart is an MF, dual POV, love-after-loss, slow burn, witty standalone romance.

The Multiverse- Amnesty by R. Sims

Max's life on Marzolie, the ancient world of Mars, was marked by its deep-seated misogyny and internal conflict. Just as Mephisto’s forces launch a devastating invasion, Max is deceived into escaping to Gaia (Earth) by none other than his younger sister. Unbeknownst to him, he is the UnMaker's oldest, and likely most evil, son, with a destiny intertwined with darkness. Kalion Amarys, former Yaragru princess and a formidable immortal, is tasked with escorting Max back to the war-torn planet. As she grapples with Max's disdain for her gender and him going through maturity, she now finds herself conflicted by her own emotions. Max's demands for her to abandon her immortal duties and bear strong sons challenge everything she stands for. Max, meanwhile, has grand plans. He wants to save his planet, marry Kalion—despite bizarre racial quirks, such as growing flowers from her head and being yellow. Yet, he’s determined to make a few changes to her, including overcoming her pre-selected mate, and starting a family immediately; since motherhood would make her forget her friends and obligations and her independent adventuring ways. As Max and Kalion clash over their differing goals, their journey becomes a test of endurance and trust. With Mephisto's threat looming, can they overcome their differences and find a way to return to Gaia together? Or will their quest end in ruin, like so many before them?

The Golden Rose of Valenul by Enna Hawthorn

Gold can tarnish, roses can wilt, but love can last forever. Ariadne Harlow didn’t want to be the Golden Rose. With the prestigious title comes too much attention. But when the courting Season begins, she has eyes for only one the Valenul General. He cares for her, helped her recover after being abducted, and holds the power to keep the horrible monsters of her past at bay. A perfect match. Azriel Tenebra didn’t want to be the personal guard of the Golden Rose. Yet despite his misgivings, he ends up at her estate at the start of the Season. Before long, his struggles, and the real reason for his avoidance, a fae bond connecting him to Ariadne. She’s all he can think of, and it risks the safety of himself and everyone who gets between them. Night after night, Ariadne can’t help but be drawn to her quiet new guard, and Azriel’s resolve to leave her slowly cracks. For when the General’s intentions become evident, she must uphold her reputation, and that of her family, by accepting his hand. Anything less and the truth would be exposed, putting Azriel’s life on the line and opening her to the scandal of the ages.

The Burden of Us by Alexandra Orchard

Ella Webb was never destined to be free. When she turned sixteen, Ella's only present was an arranged marriage to Dean, her ex-friend. Desperate for time, she bargained for a three-year reprieve to get an education and graduate before she was forced to marry. Falling in love with someone else was never Ella's intention. Yet she allowed herself to fall deep into the rabbit hole of forbidden love and hidden family secrets that Ella wished had stayed buried... but it all might be the key to setting herself free.

Ravens & Roses: A Women's Gothic Anthology by Kristin Cleaveland, Judith Crow, Carla Eliot, A.L. Garcia, Tara Jazdzewski, Rebecca Jones-Howe, Liz M. Kamp, Catherine McCarthy, Olivia Claire Louise Newman, Alexa Rose, and Helen Whistberry

A woman haunted by guilt. A man obsessed with the obscene. A vampire consumed by love. Ravens & Roses is a unique collection of Gothic stories penned by a diverse group of women authors. Pulling inspiration from some of the greatest Gothic works of our time, these writers have created eleven poignantly beautiful tales of love, tragedy, and the female experience.

All The Parts of the Soul by Catherine Fearns

Perhaps all women are witches at heart… The year is 1545; Geneva has defeated the Catholic forces of the Duke of Savoy and established itself as the center of the Reformation, with John Calvin as its spiritual leader. But peace is fragile and the city ravaged by plague, the atmosphere one of fear and suspicion. So when new rumors of witchcraft emerge from the isolated village of Satigny, Calvin sees an opportunity, and plucks a reclusive young magistrate to investigate. Henry Aubert was orphaned by plague at the age of twelve, and since then he has lived alone, consumed by fear and by the temptations he finds in the margins of his book collection. Now, for the first time, he is forced to confront the possibility of society, friendship, even love. Local healer Louise de Peney is kind and beautiful, but skirts dangerously close to the fringes of his investigation. Can he escape the horrific task he has been set? And is it too late to save a soul that has too long been turned in on itself?

Every Beautiful Mile by Ashley Manley

A widowed bartender, a summer road trip, the detour she never expected. Penelope ‘Nel’ Crawford is stuck. At least that’s what her family tells her. A year after losing her husband of seventeen years, she’s still so deep in her grief that she’s barely hanging on, let alone living. She hardly recognizes her teenage kids and finds no joy in doing the things she once loved. Her solution? An attempt to heal herself and the relationship with her kids with a summer road trip. From one destination to the next, Nel not only has to navigate life on the road, but the trials and tribulations of motherhood after loss. When a detour leads her to a flirtatious restaurant owner she’s been emailing off and on for months, she starts to remember that life—no matter how unpredictable—is made for living. And the heart, even if broken, finds ways to love again. Every Beautiful Mile will make readers laugh, cry, and remind them of the healing powers of nature, family, and love itself.

Not Quite Meant To Be by Genevieve Croeser

Love is like a four-leaf clover. You find it only when you're not looking. Elana Anderson is definitely not looking for love. When her parents' marriage falls apart, she is left with a ranch full of horses and a rebellious teenage sister. A relationship is the last thing on her mind. A relationship with Colton Johnson, who collects buckle bunnies like most people collect coins, is about as likely as her chances of winning the lottery. The fact that his dimpled smile makes her heart skip a beat means absolutely nothing at all. After having his heart shattered by his high school sweetheart, Colton Johnson decides that true love and happily ever afters exist only in fairy tales. He is perfectly happy with his commitment-free lifestyle, until he really gets to know the dark-haired cowgirl who has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. Can he risk his heart again for the chance at a fairy tale ending to their love story? Is Elana willing to give up everything she thought she knew about Colton Johnson in favour of getting to know the man behind the mask that he presents to the world? Could there possibly be room for him in her world, after all? Horses, ranch lore, love and laughter and of course, a beautiful love story make up this debut novel by Genevieve Croeser.

When Wildflowers Bloom by Ashley Manley

How would you live your life if you believed any day could be your last? Having the same genetic mutation that took both her mother and grandmother, Birdie Rose Hawkins meets her thirty-seventh birthday with the grim belief that this year will also be her last. While she normally spends her days living by lists, rules, and routines—alone—she starts her final year doing something she never does: having a one-night stand. When the stranger fatefully reappears in her life, this time carrying baggage of his own, it’s with an offer of friendship. Rather than doing what she thinks will keep her safe, he, along with the few people she has in her life, teach her how to lean into the things that scare her. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for them to ignore the connection they’ve had since that very first night. When a secret is exposed and threatens to destroy everything they’ve built, Birdie has to decide if she wants to survive like she always has or trust in the unknown that comes with truly living.

Sweet Torture by P.L Waites

What happens when you accidentally send a text to your best friend's dad that was not meant to be for his eyes? Elona, who is eighteen, is on the cusp of a new chapter- her final year of high school. A dream she has her sights on becoming a model. But beneath her confident exterior lies a secret crush on someone unexpected- Mr. Crane, her best friend's father. Three years ago, after the tragic loss of his wife, Mr. Crane, a painfully handsome man, stands as a hardworking billionaire, a symbol of both success and unspoken pain. His world intersects with Elona's through her best friend, their shared street, and his friendship with her dad. One fateful day, a slip of a thumb changes everything. Elona accidentally sends Mr. Crane a series of revealing photos intended for her best friend. As he sits at the boardroom table, he receives the unexpected images. His gaze lingers on the screen, he has a choice to make. Will he confront the accidental message, risking a fragile friendship and potentially igniting emotions neither anticipated? Or will he grapple with his own desires in silence, seeking a way to navigate this uncharted territory without disrupting the lives around him?

Waterweaver by Maya Gouliard

Lara has successfully raised four children on the limited resources of the wastes. Now, as she begins to search for her new purpose in life, the town well has run dry. To help her family, friends and neighbors Lara travels to Azural, the Blue Realm to try to bring the water magic back. Azural has been hidden behind a magic waterwall for generations, and they are not excited about outsiders, especially ones that bring unbelievable stories of Wastelands beyond their borders. Lara must prove herself worthy of a magic stone, and do so against the system. Oh, and did we mention the adorable baby dragon?

Heartbreaks & Homeruns by Mika C.C.

A marriage-in-trouble story about redemption and rediscovery. Richard 'Ramsey' Greene has focused on his life in baseball since he was a kid; however, things take a turn when the only woman he's ever loved walks out on him. Ramsey's one love starts and ends with Amelia, so when she walks away, he's forced to make a choice: Amelia or the game? Amelia walks away from her marriage as she struggles with self-image and body dysphoria, but moving back to her family's farm across the country isn't going to cut it. Amelia must work through her own problems, but will she be able to change when Ramsey comes to take her "home", or will she ruin everything she's built for herself?

Malediction by Katerina King

She’ll survive, or burn everything in her flames. Scarlette Petrova is only a shell of who she once was. A go-getter without a care in the world. But that changes when her stability is ripped away from her and her voice of reason disappears in the night, and all that’s left for her is an addict for a mom and memories. She already lost everything once, and now it's happening all over again. Scarlette's blood runs deep with ancient power built by witches of old. But she finds herself powerless when her estranged uncle demands she live with him after he starts making threats and in order to protect her drug-addled mother, she does. She hates Whitechapel. It’s her mom’s hometown and her uncle controls everything there, but the joke's on him when she finds a deeper connection to her roots and important traces of family history that furthers her magic and connection to herself. Not to mention the return of a childhood friend, Elijah Hutton, whose been outcasted by the overly religious town for being gay. Together, Scarlette and Eli learn about her past, and the closer they get to answers, the more everything and everyone seems to want to kill her. Scarlette's determined to survive, but she may not be able to make that choice anymore. But Scarlette runs hot. If she goes down, she's taking everything and everyone down with her…in the flames.

Mother of Pearl: A Sapphic Sugar Baby Romance by A.A. Fairview

The summer has never been so sweet. Lydia hadn’t planned to spend the summer poolside. She was supposed to get an internship in the city and spend nights with her girlfriend. Instead she’s single and making minimum wage as a country club lifeguard. Chlorine might dry out her scales, but it’s not all bad. At least she can flirt on company time. Stephanie is a bombshell mom with a fortune five-hundred job but without a wedding ring. She might have baggage, but it’s designer–and she’s happy to share the wealth with Lydia in exchange for some lessons in fishfolk biology. Lydia isn’t sure she’s ready to navigate exes, kids, or even a proper relationship. But summers never last forever. Will this situationship be any different?

Book of You & I: When Two Souls Collide by G Severino

OLIVIA WOODS IS CONVENTIONAL, DOWN-TO-EARTH, AND COMPOSED. She's the kind of girl who goes out of her way to do the right things for others but forgets about herself. BRANDON COLLINS IS UNCONVENTIONAL, A CREATIVE SOUL, AND PRONE TO ECCENTRICITY. He values facts over feelings, and his ability to detach from emotions can sometimes make him lonely. When the universe pushes them together under unfavorable circumstances, like lovers from the past and secret relationships, they try to stay apart. But their feelings are too strong to ignore, and they become swept up in a love like they've never felt before...until their true colors start to show. Even after their first kiss, their first touch, the first time they ever laid eyes on each other; were they destined to meet and fall in love, or was their relationship doomed from the start? *Inspired by true events*

South of Home by Rebecca Amiss

Boston, Massachusetts, 1946. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, twenty-three-year-old Maggie O'Hanlon lives a charmed life. Filling her days dancing with handsome sailors or dress shopping in high end stores, she gives very little thought for anyone besides herself. Despite her affluent upbringing, Maggie has a strained relationship with her parents, who are more keen on growing her father's grocery store empire. The one and only person who understands her, is her Uncle James, who was severely wounded during the war. When Maggie’s careless antics land her on the front page of the newspaper, she is horrified to discover that she is being sent to Savannah, Georgia where she is to assist an elderly widow tend to her large house and pecan farm, wrenching her from the comfort that luxury brings. Flora Alcott is as sweet as the pecan bread she bakes. Welcoming an angry and entitled Maggie with open arms, Flora shows Maggie something she has yet to grasp: kindness. While struggling to adapt to her new surroundings, a devastating tragedy strikes, forcing Maggie to reexamine everything she's ever known in life.

An Impossible Dream by Ellie Lieberman

A Cinderella story of friendship, love, survival, and dreams, even when they seem impossible... Sare has survived fifteen years playing the perfect little servant, but can she survive the castle? After all, nowhere compares to the castle and no one compares to the King.

Where the Heart Is by Ellie Lieberman

When everything else was taken from someone, the least they should be able to hold onto was their story. This is Clary's story. She was Princess of Alsceance. "Jewel of the South." Married to the feared Shadow King for peace after years of war. And with the stroke of her hand, she was Queen of Midgrim. For seventeen years, she remained trapped within the belly of the beast, a lonely warrior whose only weapon was her heart. But was she traded for nothing more than the falling sand in an hourglass?

Fangs and Felonies by K. Malady

In a city torn between humans and the paranormal, attorney Emily Lane thrives on ambition and her dreams of making partner. Her one vice? Illegal encounters letting vampires drink her blood. But when a prominent anti-creature businessman meets a sticky end and the local vamp coven leader Lucian is arrested, Emily's life takes a dramatic turn. Determined to prove his innocence, she teams up with the accused, the vamp whose looks are as potent as his bite, and crew of paranormal creatures. As Emily gets further entangled into the murder investigation, she wades through a world unseen by humans, where trust is scarcer than a werewolf at a flea market. But with every step, she risks her reputation and career. Can she clear Lucian's name without destroying everything she's worked for? Join Emily on a fast-paced journey of intrigue, romance, and unlikely connections in this paranormal mystery, Fangs and Felonies.

Tangled in Ribbons by Penny Heart

On a trip that goes awry from the start,... Vicky and Michelle, best friends since childhood, rented a cabin for a last hurrah together before Michelle's upcoming nuptials. The day of their trip, Michelle receives an email with proof her fiance cheated on her. The two women head to the cabin anyway to escape the chaos of a cancelled wedding. Neither of them expected the cabin to already occupied by three sexy guys. Vicky's snowed in with three hot guys... When Michelle's ex shows up unexpectedly to set the story straight and asks to meet her at a nearby hotel, Vicky gets snowed in with the three men, where things get even hotter! It starts out as happy fun times, but what happens when none of them want to let go? What else is she supposed to do to pass the time other than them? Read "Tangled in Ribbons" to find out if they salvage their friendships when jealousies, insecurities, and realities intrude in this snowed in, why choose adventure. This is full consensual, why choose erotic romance with MFMM and limited MM action. For a list of sexual activities included in this book, please check out https://www.pennyheartbooks.com/#books This story was previously released on Kindle Vella. This version has been modified to include additional content, including additional spicy scenes and other material to further develop the characters and story. Contains extensive explicit sexual language.

Well, Well, Well by Jody Wenner

No one wants to hear about another person’s dream—unless they’re in it. Bren Wendell, a Midwestern journalist, is compelled to write a column about a seemingly benign dream but worries it will be a career breaker; instead, it spreads like a virus. Letters start pouring in, and to the entire newsroom’s shock, they are not all written by angry boomers. Thousands of readers claim they’ve had the same dream. And somehow Bren has been deemed head weaver. As the country slips into hysterics over its meaning, Bren and her co-worker Zack head out to tackle several of the wackier stories for the newspaper. Feeling pressure to find solid answers, Bren sets aside her own personal problems and digs deep into the investigation. When someone leaks private information about her to the press, the masses deify her on a whole new level, making the work more difficult. A strange conversation she has with a retired psychology professor leads her to wonder if she alone could be responsible for all of the madness she’s witnessed. In order to right the wrong and get things back to normal, Bren has to switch gears and prove the dream wasn’t real.

A Blend of Magic by Kate Kenzie

A witch cannot exist on potions and tea alone. Hiding in the shadows, staunch singleton Willow Anderson is content running her successful business, The Enchanted Emporium. With Christmas days away, she’s eager to exchange selling bespoke tea blends and spells for extended bubble baths and binge-watching festive movies snuggled next to her Maine Coon, Vincent. Nate never usually runs away from his problems, but drunk and disorientated, he finds himself in a small fisherman’s cottage in the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. After discovering his girlfriend’s affair, he is in no rush to return to the City. His wish for time alone in a Christmas-free zone comes true until an uninvited feline guest arrives. Neither Nate nor Willow want company, especially from each other, but they have little choice when concussion means they must spend at least twenty-four hours together. Sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. When darkness from Willow’s past returns and threatens to destroy all she has worked for, pursuing a love affair is the last thing she needs. With meddling ghosts and a teenage apprentice with her own matchmaking agenda, love and change are in the air. But can Willow face her fears, and the past, to capture the happiness she deserves?

Hiding Places by E.J. Post

When fatal gunshots ring out at a restaurant in Chicago, Ellie, an ER physician assistant, becomes the unwitting hero in a national tragedy. Forced to make an impossible choice, she saves the life of a stranger-and loses her husband all in the same breath. The investigation takes a drastic turn when Ellie's haunting past is thrust into the relentless scrutiny of the media, leaving her ensnared in the twisted web of the broken American legal and medical systems. Ellie unravels in her immeasurable grief and anger, anchored only by the unlikely companionship of the man she saved at the diner, James. Her journey unveils the painful reality of hidden wounds in a world determined to keep skeletons buried. As she learns to cope with this new reality, Ellie is dragged through a sensationalized trial where she stumbles upon a discovery that is hard to swallow: she has more in common with the gunman than she ever thought possible.

What Was Lost by Melissa Connelly

When a young girl feels complicit in her own abuse, how does that thwart her attempts to build a happy life as an adult woman? Disturbing memories begin to surface for Marti and so she returns to the small Vermont town she ran away from thirty years ago to face her demons. She drags her unwitting and unwilling teenage daughter along on the journey heightening already existing tensions between them. But Marti is determined to achieve what she’s returned home for: forgiveness for lies told, and revenge for secrets held. Exploring the vast social change from 1970 to 2000, in times before language such as #MeToo helped give voice to these all-too-common occurrences, What Was Lost is a raw, powerful tale of one woman confronting the ghosts of her past.

The Christmas Gift by Melina Druga

Set during the events of Family Upheaval, the last holiday novella in The Rock Star’s Wife series follows the Economos siblings and their mother as they try to find something to celebrate during the most wonderful time of the year. Now that her lousy husband is out of the picture, Daria Economos is facing a wide-open future. This hardly feels like a new beginning, however. She never expected to be starting over in her twilight years; she’s a grandmother for heaven’s sake, an old fogy! Even with the holidays right around the corner, Daria just can’t seem to drum up anything to feel thankful for. She’s not the only one struggling. Her adult children are still reckoning with the revelation that they have four half-siblings out there in the world — newfound family members they’ve come to love, for better or worse. And for Daria’s oldest son, the fear that the sins of the father might be genetic is very real… The Economoses’ first Christmas as a broken family is fast approaching. Can this once-close clan make peace with their own hurt feelings, or is the holiday cheer gone for good?

Rock Star Parents by Melina Druga

Things come full circle for erotica author Cassandra Hardwick as her teenage kids wade into the mire of dating and sex, in the final chapter of The Rock Star’s Wife. Cassie thought she’d handle her kids’ comings-of-age differently than the conservative Economos family dealt with hers. But she finds herself at a near-total loss when faced with parenting teenagers — an endeavor that includes accidentally walking in on her son exploring himself, helping her younger daughter shop for bras, and discovering that her oldest may have just as high a libido as she does. Of course, she’s not the only Economos dealing with sex-related drama. Her brother’s stressing out over his unmarried daughter’s pregnancy. And just as Chris stops worrying that their unfaithful father has left an indelible mark on his descendants, the Economoses learn they may have even more half-siblings in Illinois. It’s been a long, crazy journey for Cassie, and there’s still plenty of track left on this roller coaster ride. You won’t want to miss the stunning conclusion to this 33-year adventure.