stories in and

The 5-Day Plan

The 5-Day Plan by Ashish Rastogi

Curly-haired, bespectacled, Dr. Akhil can replace your hip without a sweat, but he is a rambling, fidgeting fool outside the operation room. The worst qualifications to have for a man in search of love. However, one can overcome any obstacle with a bit of planning. Right? Plan A is simple. Unfortunately, the heart-to-heart blows up in shouting hysterics, tears, and abandonment. Worry not; time for Plan B. A year in London, and Plan B goes belly up. All because of a reality dating show. Anyway, who cares. Akhil has his plant babies. They are not traitors like the stars that Akhil loves gazing at night. The twinklers conspire to bring the dark enemy back into his orbit. Nope, not happening. Akhil has a plan. This time a three-letter one. Plan KDA- Keep Dan Away. But it is not easy blocking "the player" hell-bent on dribbling his way past Akhil's defences one accident at a time- ready to score. Add the nosy Keely matriarch and her two sidekick clowns to flying forks, tripping legs, and an accomplished kiss coach; our Akhil is in deep trouble.


Love in the Middle

Love in the Middle by Barbara Lieberman

Love stories are for the young, he's decided, and Sam Mayer is most certainly not young. He's building a new life for himself, after cancer and divorce chewed up and spit out his old one. It's called 'middle age' for a reason and that's because it is not the time to start something new... or is it?


Love Kills Twice

Love Kills Twice by Rien Gray

She needs an assassin. Theyā€™re the best in the business. Falling in love was never part of the deal. Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Justine hires a contract killer. Campbellā€™s services come at a high price, and their dark, seductive charisma leads Justine right into their bed. Hiding an affair while Campbell designs the perfect murder has Justine walking a tightrope of stress, but each time the two of them sleep together, itā€™s harder not to get attached. Campbell struggles with their own traumatic past, convinced that the truth will drive Justine away. Thereā€™s a faint hope that things could work, save for one problem: Justineā€™s husband wants her dead too. Revenge is easyā€”heartbreak could cost both of them everything.


Plant Lady

Plant Lady by M. A. Phillips

Plants are easy. Peopleā€¦not so much. Fern is a practicing witch with a green thumb. She's earned an enchanting reputation for helping people improve their fortunes at her tiny plant shop in Utica, NY, but she'd trade it all to reclaim her grandparents' garden nursery. Her life takes an unexpected turn when an ex-boyfriend suddenly appears at her Pagan circle's meetup as they plan for their annual witches' ball. Will he uproot this Plant Lady's plans, or will new opportunities bloom?


Jenniā€™s Boy

Jenniā€™s Boy by Lewis J. Lewin

Jenniā€™s Boy follows Luke as he grows up, struggling to tell the woman that he has loved since high school how he truly feels. As he fails to communicate with her, other problems take ahold of him in life, and she drifts away, but she is ever present in his mind. His old friends fade away, and even his family members start to go their own paths. He realizes just how important communication is in relationships.


Home

Home by Maxime Jaz

What if the edge of the world wasn't far enough to confront your biggest fears? Damian has it all: first-class ticket home, whisky to drown his fear of flying, snark, and arrogance to push away everyone. Just not the wife. Heartbroken flight attendant Gabe likes his flights uneventful. His training and gentle nature are enough to keep him from busting Damian's face in. Probably. A plane crash forces lives and worlds that couldn't be more different to become one. They fight each other, their biggest fears, a life so rough survival is just the beginning... can they win battles brewing far away, at home?


As the Light Goes Out

As the Light Goes Out by Olive J. Kelley

A cozy & honest romance novella about mental health and finding the right person. When Boston born and bred Simon Abbott buys an obsolete lighthouse on the coast of Maine, he envisions turning it into a short-term rental with nothing but a HGTV understanding of renovation and heaps of gay audacity. The current caretaker of the lighthouse, Bruce Cadogan, sees right through Simonā€™s confidence and, in a last ditch attempt to save his quaint New England hometownā€™s charm, asks for three days to convince Simon not to go through with his plan, or heā€™ll help him with the renovations himself. What follows is nothing either man expectedā€” A violent ocean storm brings them together for a night, which turns into a day, and another day; by the time Simonā€™s three days are up, heā€™s saddled with feelings for the other man, and Bruce canā€™t help but wish Simon would stay. With the lighthouse standing between them, the two men have to choose between nurturing the new spark into a flame, or their original agreement, returning to the lives they led before.


Love in the Liner Notes

Love in the Liner Notes by Katta Kis

Two ex-boy band heartthrobs. A witchy sex educator. The love triangle no one expected. Cazzi has been in love with her childhood best friend Patrick since, well, forever. Heā€™s the only one who gets her paganism, her passion for sex education, and knows what happened on the worst night of her life. But when she kissed him, it ruined their friendship. Now Patrick is back in her lifeā€”until his old bandmate throws a wrench in their relationship. Rohan is an ex-boy band heartthrob on his last bid for a comeback career. But this is jeopardized when Cazzi inspires him to leave his tempestuous girlfriend, causing a rift between Cazzi and Patrick in the process. Between the emotional fallout and work drama, Cazzi is duct-taping her mental health together with ritual, marijuana, and the brownies Rohan bakes for her. As Cazzi and Rohan grow unexpectedly close can their relationship survive when the machinations of his ex threaten to expose her biggest secret?


Homecoming Chaos

Homecoming Chaos by D. W. Brooks

Four years ago, Jamie left everything behind. Now sheā€™s back to face her past, her family, and a killer. Jamie Scott had a seemingly perfect life: a loving fiancĆ©, a promising career as a doctor, and a supportive family. But she canceled her wedding and turned down a cushy job offer, instead, running away to join a humanitarian mission abroad. But life brought her back to her hometown, and now sheā€™s ready to face the consequences of her actions. What she doesnā€™t expect is to walk into a murder scene in the parking lot of her familyā€™s business. She also doesnā€™t expect to encounter Detective Nick Marshall, the sexy and smart cop who is assigned to the case. Heā€™s determined to find the truth, even with Jamie distracting him and interfering in the case. Heā€™s also drawn to her like a moth to a flame, despite the constant chaos that seems to surround her.


Never Too Much

Never Too Much by Sienna Eggler

Romance was never a priority in Cyrille's life; her work on the local nature reserve came first. And compounded by her upbringing in a small town, finding a girlfriend seemed out of reach. "If it happens, it happens." But now that she's in her late 30's, Cyrille realizes it's better now than never. And a lot has changed over the last twenty years, leading to a steadily progressive attitude in town. A not yet out Cyrille braves a speed dating event, where she meets three potential partners: a childhood friend, a fellow park ranger, and a self-proclaimed "Goblin of the Forest." A hopeful Cyrille has one person in mind, but life is full of surprises. Never Too Much is a sapphic romance about an asexual lesbian navigating the dating scene, happy ending included.


Andy and the Extroverts

Andy and the Extroverts by Jessica K. Foster

Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends. When her over-involved mother has the audacity to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she's thrust into an introvert's nightmare. Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there's no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the kind of self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming. Then she meets Lucasā€ā€hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she's swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she'll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be.


At the Manor House

At the Manor House by E A Stoy

As a secret agent in a war between supernatural societies, Brand has made himself into an expert in social engineering and information gathering -- or, as some might put it, sexpionage. His world is upturned when a new handler back at the office takes an interest in him and pulls out all the stops to save him from a trivial lapse in intelligence. Intrigued, he resolves to learn more about what turns out to be a shy and withdrawn man in the Extraction department, whose blisteringly competent work persona is at odds with his awkwardness and inability to control his own elemental powers. Feeling that he owes this handler a favor, and with growing interest in this strange and quiet man, Brand takes him under his wing and swiftly develops a reason to come home at the end of a mission. Meanwhile, he's being sent back into the fray to seduce a dangerously skilled mage bred by an opposing society. It certainly appears that he'd prefer a clean break from his own organization, but will that be enough to flip him as an asset to Headquarters? A queer romance based on mutual respect and admiration.


Paper Daffodils: A Dawn & Rosie Adventure

Paper Daffodils: A Dawn & Rosie Adventure by Titania Tempest

Is it ever too late for a love story? Dawn Clermont certainly doesnā€™t think so. Rosie Bishop absolutely disagrees. The last place divorcee Rosie wants to be is on a Seniors Retreat in the Lake District. Sheā€™s determined not to have a good time, but an unexpected reunion with an old friend thwarts her plans. Her armour of bitterness proves no match for the spirited widow Dawn; dragged through a whirlwind of adventures and betrayed by her own sense of humour, Rosie soon realises she hasnā€™t got a hope of staying sullen. As Rosie clings to the remnants of her sarcasm, something about Dawn draws her closer than ever before. Soon, their bond threatens to run deeper, but is the possibility of budding romance worth risking their rekindled friendship?


Tamika Wood's Birthday Party

Tamika Wood's Birthday Party by Le Kendall

Follow the stories of Alan Sebastian Parker and his family as they navigate life, love, family and parenting, queerness and neurodivergence.


Purity

Purity by Skyler Mason

What happens when a shy virgin raised in purity culture asks her gorgeous, player best friend to take her V-card? Iā€™ve been in love with Cole Walker since the first day he walked into class and sat beside me. Who could blame me? Six foot five, gorgeous, and a sweetheart to boot. Heā€™s charming enough to get any girl he wants. The plan was to make him fall in love with me, get married, and give him all my firsts. Too bad heā€™s never once looked at me that way. I donā€™t know how to flirt, and Iā€™ve been stuck in the friend-zone for years. Iā€™m 21 now. And this summer, Iā€™m going to ask him to take my V-card with no strings attached. But when I tell Cole my request, his reaction is not what I expect. Heā€™s furious and over-the-top protective. He wonā€™t touch me, but apparently no one else can either. It doesnā€™t make any sense. Until we share a kiss that makes the world stand still, and I begin to wonderā€¦maybe Iā€™ve misread him all along. Authorā€™s note: Suitable for ages 18+.Please see authorā€™s website for a list of content warnings.


The BFF Role

The BFF Role by Jaysee Jewel

Not every girl wants to be the hero of her own story. Zilla is an average high school senior aspiring to become a nurse. The only unique thing about her is that she adamantly believes she is living inside a poorly written romance novel and her best friend Cindy is the main female lead. Taking her role as the best friend very seriously, Zilla dedicates her free time to protecting her best friend from the authorā€™s drama-hungry fingers, preventing the writer from interfering with Cindyā€™s love life. However, just as things are starting to go well between Cindy and the sweet boy-next-door who just moved in, a rival appears who could screw up Zillaā€™s plans. The schoolā€™s notorious playboy, Axel Burns, decides to ask Cindy out for prom, singlehandedly turning what was going to be a sweet love story into a love triangle. Zilla wonā€™t stand for it! But when Zilla tries to draw Axelā€™s attention away from Cindy, she accidentally turns it toward herself and ends up in a romantic side plot she doesnā€™t want any part of. Fans of Love, Rosie and To All the Boys Iā€™ve Loved Before will adore this trope-subverting, coming-of-age love story about friendship, relationships, and overcoming oneā€™s flaws.


March & Feather

March & Feather by Emma Saska

At Stony Point Homeschool Academy, high school senior Audra Dunne spends her time hanging out with friends, cooking and baking, and dreaming of her not-so-distant future at the Culinary Institute of America. Sure, she wishes she were comfortable enough to talk to her much-older sister Madeline about something other than AP Calculus. And sure, she wishes new kid Matthew Harwell would stop invading her friend group. But Audra finds comfort in her digital persona Feather, exchanging texts with her best friend March, the pen pal she met on a homeschool forum four years ago. When March lets slip that heā€™s recently moved to her city, Audraā€™s curiosity begins to grow. What if she and March end their pact to stay anonymous? What if March goes to Stony Point? What if... March is someone she already knows? As unexpected family developments and a personal crisis (or two) threaten to upend Audraā€™s life, sheā€™ll have to decide whether turning away from all sheā€™s used to is worth it for the chance at finding more.


The Figurine

The Figurine by Pepper Effen

At twenty-eight, Joanna Macguire wants a slow and steady kind of love, the kind to build a family on. She knows that intense attraction always burns out too fast. So when a handsome forensic scientist almost sweeps her off her feet, she rejects him. Online dating seems a safer bet, until the perfect guy turns out to be a dangerous choice. Allan Cooper feels an intense connection when he meets Joanna, and he knows the feeling is mutual. So why did she put him in the friend zone? Meanwhile, at the state crime lab, heā€™s investigating an elusive serial killer with a fetish for redheads and antique wedding dresses. Allan and Joanna get to know each other at weekly trivia night, and his patience finally pays off. But when Joanna disappears, the most important case of his career becomes horrifyingly personal.


A Certain Kind of Sadness

A Certain Kind of Sadness by Jillean McClory

Insecurity and loneliness eat away at Rachel Wharton as old debts and obligations compel her to accept a job in another city, leaving behind family and friends. But leaving Morgan Hillier, the man she has loved since childhood, at a critical time in their fragile relationship breeds a toxic mix of self-doubt and anxiety. Now Rachel finds herself stuck in a dingy three-story walk-up. Her demons and countless falls from grace crowd her tiny apartment. Questions she has avoided for years demand her attention: how did she get here? Why did she let this happen? Her regrets challenge her to take off her blinders and see whatā€™s in her peripheral vision, forcing her to examine her perceptions of love, family, bravery, and her ability to captain her life. Always the victim of circumstance ā€“ from her privileged upbringing, her unrequited love for Morgan, to being stalked by a man in the shadows ā€“ Rachel struggles to accept her new life. Without a net to catch her when she stumbles, she regrets her decision to take a job that anchors her to a mistake she canā€™t undo. Itā€™s exhausting navigating the distance between her and Morgan, but her motherā€™s disapproval makes it problematic, putting further strain on their already complicated relationship. To make matters worse, with each day that passes, Rachel becomes a version of herself she hates ā€“ a poor slob in love.


Assure Her

Assure Her by Thia Finn

Chandler Chatam, fresh out of Juilliard, finds herself temporarily playing with four hot rockers of Assured Distraction, an up-and-coming band, out on their first big tour. She's lead a sheltered life of luxury and is determined to make the most of this tour as part of the band until her world is suddenly turned upside down. Then more life-shattering news alters the course she's set for herself. Meeting Chandler at her audition for a temporary spot in Assured Distraction, lead singer Keeton MacDonald flashes a panty-dropping smile knowing that a woman is sure to wreak havoc on the bus for this bunch of guys looking to enjoy the perks of life on the road as the rock stars they are. Assured Distraction's tour is the beginning of a raucous journey for them all that leads to fun days, exciting concerts, and hot nights. Not just a life on the bus story, but a story about living messy lives in the real world.


Defending Jessica

Defending Jessica by Benna Bos

From the author of the Lesfic Bard Award winning novel ā€œInvestigating Helenā€ comes another stand-alone installation in the Murder by the Bay Mystery Seriesā€¦ Few people accused of murder are as unlikable as Veronica Turnerā€™s client, Jessica French. So to give the haughty heiress the best defense possible Veronica needs help from her favorite true crime podcast. But when she meets the newest sound tech for ā€œMurder by the Bayā€, she is instantly enthralled. She wants nothing more than to get close to the stunning, shy woman. Focused on her new job, Kaia Kent pays little attention to the pushy attorney defending their latest podcast subject. But Veronica just keeps coming around, and every time she does, Kaia finds herself slipping a little further away from dislike and toward serious attraction. With an innocent woman to defend, a murderer on the loose, and opposites that are smashed together in a whirlwind of fear, intrigue, and passion, defending Jessica will prove to be anything but easy.


Investigating Helen

Investigating Helen by Benna Bos

Dr. Helen Nims is hauled into the police station when her new girlfriend is found murdered. Terrified and confused, she finds comfort from a stranger. But when that stranger turns out to be a crime reporter, Helen has to decide if she can be trusted or if confiding in the stunning podcaster will pull Helen deeper into suspicion. Agnes Coates loves reporting on true crime. But it hits a little close to home when her first crush from high school is found dead in a bathtub. A gorgeous surgeon is tangled up in the police dragnet as they search for the killer, and Agnes must navigate her own feelings as she digs into the mystery and seeks out the truth. With so much to lose, Agnes and Helen will walk the line between kisses and crime.


Shackin' Up: Shackinā€™ Up: Short Stories of Queer Romance and Forced Proximity

Shackin' Up: Shackinā€™ Up: Short Stories of Queer Romance and Forced Proximity by Augusta Connor

Get cozy with Space Fruit Pressā€™s collection of stories, where queer couples find themselves getting unexpectedly close. Whether itā€™s a vacation rental, cabin in the woods, or a run-down motel, any port in a storm can get awfully hot when itā€™s the right pair trapped inside. There may only be one bed, but thereā€™s plenty between these covers to keep you warm.


Me Too

Me Too by Eli B

When NADIA COLEMAN crashes into the cold and aloof CEO, LUCA SHOLA. Sheā€™s embarrassed by her calamitous first impression and heā€™s not amused by her either. Until they meet again on the dance floor and they canā€™t deny the intoxicating pull they feel for each other. Ā  But, theyā€™ve got secrets to hide and thereā€™s no place for love in their lives. Nadiaā€™s determined to rid her life of a man that's abused her by destroying the secret society thatā€™s allowed him the freedom to do so. Lucaā€™s tied to an abusive woman of his grandfatherā€™s choosing while being groomed as the next leader of the Syndicates. The more Nadia and Luca learn about each other, the more their lives become entangled, but for two people scarred by trauma, can they find the strength in themselves to hold on to each other and the love blossoming between them? Me Too is an interracial romance filled with comedy, suspense and subtle hints of the Myth of Hades and Persephone sprinkled amongst the pages of this sweet love story.


Returning to You

Returning to You by Gwen Tolios

Monicaā€™s relationship with her father is falling apart, made more obvious when her return to Madison after years aboard results in him throwing her out of the house. Lisa Carson, her BFF and old college roommate, takes her in. Turns out Lisa has her own issues with her parents ā€“ theyā€™re pushing her to date despite her lack of desire. So when Monica joins a Carson family dinner, she lies and says itā€™s starting a relationship with Lisa that brought her back to America. Lisa goes along with the ruse ā€“ it gets her parents off her back and itā€™s only until Monica repairs her relationship with her father and moves out. What Monica failed to take into account however is that crush she had on Lisa in college? Yeah, that didnā€™t go away.


Hurricane Ryan

Hurricane Ryan by Katya Summers

Carly had been the top lifeguard at Sea Side Cove for two years when Ryan arrived. Thereā€™s an instant spark between them after they meet during a rescue, but Carly has issues sheā€™s afraid will scare him away. None of that matters when they find themselves in the path of a Category 5 hurricane, and Ryan has to find her when she runs off into the storm.


Blue Skies

Blue Skies by Alana Oxford

"I loved this sweet romance! The chemistry between Seth and Patrice was palpable, and I was rooting for them from the beginning." -Lacie Waldon author of From the Jump. "I couldn't put it down! It was just what I needed, to get lost in a story with characters I couldn't get enough of, taking me on a journey of wild fun and romance." -Allyson Martinek, Morning host 100.3 WNIC and author of Living On Air. Life isn't always a walk in the park, but when Patrice takes her Pomeranians to the park after a rough day at the office, fate steps in. An unlikely hero comes to the rescue when one of her dogs gets loose. Short, pale, and kind of cute, Seth doesn't have a lot of confidence with the ladies, but he hits it off with Patrice. But some things might be too good to be true. While Patrice wonders if Seth could possibly be "the one", fate steps in again with a horrible twist. Will it be a deal breaker or just a storm before bright blue skies?


Scotsman in the Stacks

Scotsman in the Stacks by Alana Oxford

"Fresh and charming - a heart-warming must read romance." - Sandy Barker, author of A Sunrise Over Bali. "Scotsman in the Stacks is a delightfully sweet, cosy romance for book lovers." - Kiley Dunbar, author of The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday For fans of low-angst, slow burn, closed door romance. Paige wants two things: to land a full time librarian job and find the man of her dreams. On the cusp of thirty, she finds herself suddenly single and working part-time in a Michigan library. A handsome patron with a delicious accent appears at the reference desk, inadvertently sparking an idea that might help her land the promotion she so desperately needs. But that's not the only thing he sparks. James is in town from Glasgow, Scotland, on a summer artist residency. Luckily, the trip got him away from the pressure he feels to take over his uncle's river tour business. He only wanted to clear his head and make his art in peace, but he wasn't counting on finding an attractive librarian to fill his days. With only eight weeks before James goes home to Scotland, Paige knows she should protect her heart. After all, she already wasted years with her commitmentphobe ex. But the more she gets to know James, the less she can stick to her plan to just be friends. Is she just wasting her time again, or can they bridge the ocean between them to find a happily ever after of their own?


What The Stars Didn't Show Us

What The Stars Didn't Show Us by Margherita Scialla

Life isn't easy when you have a brother who's always considered better than you. Hyunsuk's situation is even worse since he shares the same face as his so-called perfect twin. His life starts to change, however, when a new student arrives at his school and she sees something in him no one else had ever bothered to look for. Hialeah, already too familiar with the feeling of being alone, is set on befriending him, but can Hyunsuk finally come out of his twinā€™s shadow and open up to someone, when his brother makes it clear he doesnā€™t want him to find happiness?


As You Wish (Shatterproof Bond #1)

As You Wish (Shatterproof Bond #1) by Isobel Starling

1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story! Declan Ramsay was set to be the best man at his brother's wedding in Scotland, sharing the best man duties with the bride's gay kid brother Sam. Sam was abroad finishing his studies so the best men communicated by email for more than a year and wouldn't meet for the first time until a few days before the wedding But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to see he isn't a kid at all, but a striking, athletic blond man with gorgeous green eyes and a wicked sense of humor. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself. But is Sam Aiken all he appears to be? Also available in paperback and as an award-winning audiobook, narrated by Gary Furlong.


Beauty in the Breakdown

Beauty in the Breakdown by Tegan Anderson

"We can't hide like this forever, Josh. How did we even get into this mess?" Family. Money. Run. Three things that Josh Ray and Clara Roberts have their entire life based around. It's an endless loop of get away from family, get money and get running. After a few months of what feels like stability, Josh and Clara have to start the cycle all over again until everything finally comes to an end. There was something beautiful in the way that things broke down. 'Beauty in the Breakdown' represents the importance of trust and self-discovery in an unstable lifestyle through the eyes of Josh Ray, someone who believes that there is always something beautiful in a breakdown.


Soulmate, Stage Right

Soulmate, Stage Right by Bixby Jones

Drama teacher Abby Devlin has always dreamed of being a world-famous actress. While stardom has, so far, proven elusive, she has made quite a name for herself at McMillan Playhouse, where sheā€™s just been cast in a self-written production. Her triumph quickly turns to dread, however, when she learns that McMillan has cast a soap star as her new leading man. After a painful divorce, Dean Altman, former soap star and a single dad, readjusted his priorities, moving back home to Galveston, Texas with his young daughter, Preslie. It doesnā€™t take long for him to feel the itch to dust himself off and step back into the acting world, which brings him to McMillanā€™s stageā€¦and Abbyā€™s attention. There is a fire between Abby and Dean when they meet in rehearsal, and not the good kind. Sizzling tension leads to drama both on and off-stage, but when they are forced to work together for the sake of the play, they slowly begin to give in to the undeniable chemistry between them. Before they truly have a chance to understand what they might have, however, an opportunity presents itself to Deanā€”one that could make or break what they have come to find in one another. Soulmate, Stage Right is an enemies-to-lovers, single dad romance, with quick progression and high-stakes emotion. It will appeal to contemporary romance fans, as well as fans of Hallmark movies. It is low on the heat, but high on the sweet, and can best be described as a romantic dramedy.


Forest Magic

Forest Magic by M. A. Phillips

Lacey and Cian embrace a new path in life, but fresh mysteries and dangers stalk the forest around their home. The dreams and visions that once guided Lacey have gone silent, and Cianā€™s own intuition blossoms whether he wants it to or not. With their abilities transforming, and tragedy at their heels, can Lacey and Cian do what they must to protect their family and Pagan community, even when one of their greatest threats ever comes from within?


Hearth Magic

Hearth Magic by M. A. Phillips

After the events of RIVER MAGIC, Cian Oā€™Connor and Anthony Russo must grapple with their relationship to the land, the spirit realm, and each other. One man wants to support Lacey and protect her from another otherworldly maelstrom. The other needs her help as he confronts an angry presence in his home so he can move on with a new lover. Are Cian and Anthonyā€™s lives more entwined than they ever imagined? ā€œThe medium, the conservationist, and the poacher, all drawn together by a cord of fate.ā€ A new Rituals of Rock Bay tale featuring kitchen magic, romance, redemption, and the spiritual bonds that link us.


Ask Me For Fire

Ask Me For Fire by Halli Starling

The tall pines, the thick mist, the birdsong above his head.. Barrett loves everything about living outside the remote mountain town of Lake Honor, but especially the peace and quiet. His days as a forest ranger are filled with unpredictable adventure, so home is the one place he knows he can count on. But even home has been a surprise of late, as his next door neighbor and good friend has suddenly passed away, and the house has been sold to someone new. Heā€™s not sure this change will be good. When the new neighbor, Ambrose, arrives, Barrett realizes that the man is a loner, like himself, and clearly not looking for a friend. Which is a pity, because Barrett finds him fascinating and incredibly good looking. Ambrose didnā€™t move to the outskirts of nowhere to make a friend. But Barrett, his new neighbor, is kind and generous, and has soft brown eyes he canā€™t stop thinking about. As he slowly warms up to Barrett, fate finds a way to push them together when danger and sabotage strike. Barrett saves Ambroseā€™s life, and their bond is cemented. Ambrose isnā€™t sure about letting in someone new, but Barrett hasnā€™t proven to be anything but a good person. And a handsome one at that. As their lives entangle, and their relationship grows, neither man can ignore the attraction between them. But their pasts are complicated; an ex-boyfriend reappears, an estranged parent tries to get in contact, and Barrettā€™s nephew falls ill. On top of that, the sabotage of forest ranger equipment grows more dangerous and Barrett is pulled into the investigation. Both men want to take their relationship slow, even with all the drama swirling around them. Ask Me For Fire is a love story drenched in atmosphere, suspense, and heartfelt connections.


Elevated Inferno

Elevated Inferno by Carlotta Ardell

Monet Parker wasn't a sucker for a man in uniform. Even if he was a firefighter with dimples deep enough to swim in and ebony skin painted by the gods. She was just trying to get her dream internship and prepare herself for a career in social robotics. She had no idea how her life would change with the simple push of a button. When the elevator taking her to her interview at Real World Robotics stops, Monet isn't sure if she will live, let alone make her interview. She's rescued by Rhys Banks: the gorgeous hunk of a fireman. As much as their magnetism is palpable, Monet is trying to ignore her feelings. Focusing on her career and navigating her chaotic family drama is more than enough excitement for her. Still, it's hard to ignore #FiremanBae when her sister is hosting an Instagram Live video of the rescue and getting the whole internet buzzing. What happens when the internet becomes a third wheel in Monet's love life? What happens when past hurts, career goals, and family baggage are in conflict with their desires? Will these distractions win out and quash the elevated inferno? Can Monet have it all, including love?


A Whisper of Solace

A Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay

What makes an Ice Queen? Neve Blackthorne, head of one of the most successful Studios in Hollywood, is the one to rule them all. Powerful, beautiful, and aloof, sheā€™s ruthless, yet irresistible. Above all, she has an unquenchable survival instinct. Surely a fleeting entanglement with one Audrey Avens, a bright, young, rising star in her company, wonā€™t bring down the Wicked Queen of Tinseltown. Or will it? Neveā€™s public persona has no chink in the untouchable armor, but when the lights go out and the cameras stop rolling, what becomes of an Ice Queen whose heart is ruled by love and fear?


The Devil Wears Tartan

The Devil Wears Tartan by Katia Rose

Some couples are a match made in heaven. Moira and Kenzie are convinced the only place theyā€™re a match is in hell. Raised as the shining prodigies of warring highland dance schools, the two grew up with blaring bagpipes as the backing track for a feud that took them all the way to the world championships. Moira could never keep Kenzieā€™s icy glares from getting under her skin, and Kenzie could never hold back an eye-roll as she watched the crowds fawn over her rivalā€™s happy-go-lucky charm. Starting college has forced both women to hang up their kilts, but when their local highland dance association announces a scholarship for a life-changing amount of money, they find themselves back onstage for one last season. The stakes are higher than ever, but between shooting daggers at each otherā€™s backs and insults at each otherā€™s faces, their eyes start lingering, their hearts start pounding, and the sparks begin to build into a fire neither of them can control. Hell could freeze before either woman would admit their attraction, but that wonā€™t stop them from using it to play dirtyā€”and getting caught in the crossfire of their feelings along the way. After all, sometimes the devil wears tartan. The Devil Wears Tartan is a New Adult, F/F dramedy from Katia Rose featuring more bagpipes than anyone asked for and two fiercely competitive heroines caught in a sizzling shift from enemies to lovers


The Delicate Things We Make

The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay

Hitting rock bottom in the concrete jungle of Manhattan, investigative journalist Jamie Walker lands the assignment of a lifetime: Find the most elusive artist of a generation, who has enthralled the art and fashion world for over a decade. This assignment is supposed to finally be Jamieā€™s ticket to journalistic fame and fortune. The quest, however, proves to be difficult, asā€”so farā€”nobody has managed to discover who the legendary DeVor really is. As Jamie delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic artist, trying to salvage her stagnant career, she risks getting in over her head and losing her heart in the process.


Jordan's Penny

Jordan's Penny by Stefanie Stratton

Jordan Stephens, the embodiment of perfection, was convinced early on that he deserves the best. From his dashing sex appeal to a successful career, he surrounds himself with luxury, wearing tailor-made suits, flaunting his expensive Benz, and bedding women equally gorgeous. One thing remains off-limitsā€”commitment. He can't even commit to an assistant, cycling through one attractive, unqualified assistant after the next. Their beauty is all that matters... until their job performance makes him look bad. Penelope Matthews, Jordan's replacement assistant, is nothing like her predecessors. Forced to wear unfashionable clothing and hide behind makeup, Jordan's looks won't distract this full-figured woman. She knows her lane and stays in it. Experienced with demanding men, she'll wow him with color-coded spreadsheets, and an exceptional work ethic. And wait until he tries her tea. As long as she stays under the radar, impervious to her boss, she'll emerge unscathed. After surviving her tumultuous probationary period, the pair forms an undeniable connection that flips their worlds upside-down. With secrets lingering between them, they must decide which path to take: the one they've been traveling, or the road that leads to each other. **This book contains sensitive topics**


The Headmistress

The Headmistress by Milena McKay

A chance encounter. An unforgettable night. And back home, trouble is brewing on the remote island of Three Dragons, where nothing feels like it used to. Alone and lonely, Sam Threadneedle wishes upon a star, hoping for change. But when said change comes, itā€™s with a roar and not a whimper. Torn between loyalty and lust, Sam is forced to re-evaluate everything. Can she and the Home of Dragons withstand the storm that is Magdalene Nox, or will any and all crumble? Not everything is as it seems, and as she slowly unravels the mysteries behind the centuries-old walls, Sam realizes that home is much more than oak and stone.


After Sunset

After Sunset by Lise Gold

After years of working abroad as a chef, Zoe returns to her home town in Spain to embark on the next step in her career: executive chef in a new hotel. Sheā€™s excited to put together a team and create a menu to die for before the hotel opens, but after meeting the building contractor, wounds from her past put a dampener on the challenge. Marcy keeps herself busy. Apart from her day-to-day job as a contractor, sheā€™s either working on her dream home or chasing the ladies. Sheā€™s a people pleaser; always friendly and on good terms with everyone, yet the new chef at the hotel sheā€™s renovating canā€™t stand her, and she canā€™t figure out why. When they meet at a pool party during a womenā€™s only weekend, Marcy is shocked to discover she shares a brief history with Zoe. A history sheā€™d long forgotten about.


Love, Anon

Love, Anon by Bryony Rosehurst

Christmas is approaching and Arden Hayes is in dire need of a date if only to convince her concerned family that sheā€™s moved on from her failed marriage. Rosie Gladwell is lonely in a city that isnā€™t hers, an ocean away from home, and every date that sheā€™s been on ends in disaster. When she comes across an advertisement for someone willing to act as a Christmas date on new social media and dating app, Donā€™t Be a Stranger, she responds in the hopes that she wonā€™t have to spend Christmas alone ā€” even if it means spending the night pretending to be in a relationship with a stranger. However, as Rosie and Arden get to know one another, they seem to find an instant, undeniable connection. Is it as real as it feels, or just another act?


Bluffing for Beginners

Bluffing for Beginners by Merren Tait

Em never imagined she'd use "covert" and "shameless" in the same sentence. Until she had nothing left to lose. Em Stewart is no pushover. She can hot wire a car, torpedo a beer in under ten seconds, and make the most curse-hardy trooper blush with her colourful tongue. But when she's abandoned by her long-time boyfriend twenty minutes into starting their new life together on a remote island, she's in a tailspin. Somehow, she must forge their fresh start on her own in a place full of strangers and find her groove within the small island community - even with its songbird-loving eccentricities. The problem is Em isn't very good at hiding the truth. Her face syphons blood off her organs every time she meets the local ranger, and she accidentally gives up the island's greatest secret to the one person most willing to exploit it. Now Em has to perform the biggest bluff of her life to protect her new home against corporate interest, even if it means ruining a fresh shot at love before it's had much of a chance. But Em's not afraid of going down in a blaze of glory. And one thing's for sure: She's about to take the islanders on the ride of their lives. Bluffing for Beginners is the second of four stand-alone novels in the award-winning Good Life series.


Love and Other Games

Love and Other Games by Lyndsey Gallagher

Successful beauty business queen, Emma Harvey is not quite as astute when it comes to relationships. Ghosted, following an epic one night stand with a notorious Irish rugby Hooker, she vows no more players, concentrating instead on securing the perfect beachfront property for her new luxury spa. Irish rugby Hooker, Eddie Harrington is the team joker. Except the tragic events of the past year weren't funny at all. Determined to set things right, Eddie scours Dublin for the perfect beach front property to ease his brothers discomfort upon his difficult return from the States. Crossed wires at a mutual friends Croatian wedding result in Emma and Eddie reluctantly agreeing to share the honeymoon suite for a week. Their exotic reunion results in a seductive game, highlighting what they almost had, and could potentially have again... Unless the two happen to want the same beach front property more than they want each other.... Will Emma stick to her game plan and put business before pleasure? Or will Eddies practiced tactics win out?


The Ticket

The Ticket by Heather Grace Stewart

Now an optioned book! Fasten your seat belts for a journey filled with humor and adventure. Bachelor & newscaster Pete McCarney buys two plane tickets for a trip around the world with his girlfriend, but they split up shortly before the trip, and he can't get a refund. In a gutsy last minute move, Pete goes on social media asking for women with his girlfriend's exact name to apply to join him on the trip. Twenty-one women apply, and the ensuing interview process is both awkward and hilarious. When he finally chooses a feisty, headstrong, recently-divorced lawyer, he has no idea what to expect from their world wide adventures - and neither does Allie James. She has pretty much sworn off men since her divorce. Will either of them get the vacation they were so desperately hoping for?


Loving Callie

Loving Callie by Julia Jarrett

A doctor walks into a barā€¦ Doctor Callie Scott kept it professional when handsome pub owner, Jake Evans, ended up in her ER. But when she sees him again at the Lucky Strike pub, sparks fly a second time, igniting a powerful chemistry between them. This new relationship could be a love greater than she has ever dreamed of. Her family is a roadblock, though, and it's harder than Callie expected to have to negotiate her parents' expectations. They will never approve of Jake. A pub owner does not fit into their political ambitions, and if Callie keeps seeing him, she risks losing her only family. Her entire life has been about trying to earn her parents' respect and approval. Now she has a chance to have the love she has waited a lifetime for, and Callie faces an impossible choice. Read the debut novel reviewers say is ā€œEverything I Want In A Contemporary Romanceā€ and ā€œAn Insta-Love Story Done Right.ā€


Crushing

Crushing by Kelly Kay

Josh is a legend in his own mind, and Elle has no time for it. She has a job to do, and a winery hangs in the balance. Unfortunately, it's his family's winery. They'll either screw up each other's lives or... end up screwing. Crushing is the story of two people who hate each other but rumor has it, with enough wine, anyone can fall in love. Set in Sonoma, California's Wine Country, this is the first book in the 5 Families Vineyard Series and, of course, the LaChappelle/Whittier Winery Trilogy.


What we Deserve

What we Deserve by Lizzie Stanley

Iā€™m used to being alone, until she changed everything... When my ex-wife left, she said the cruelest words she could think of, and I took them all to heart. Now I work at my loveable bastard cousinā€™s tattoo parlor and keep most people at armā€™s length. I have the occasional one night stand to take the edge off, but there can never be anything more than that for me. I donā€™t let myself think about how lonely I am. At least Iā€™m not ruining anyoneā€™s life, right? Then Emily walks into Wishbone Tattoos, asking about the receptionist job. And this shy, smiling, kindhearted woman is everything Iā€™ve ever wanted. I canā€™t help falling for her, even though I know I mustn't, for both our sakes. But thereā€™s something about Emily I donā€™t know. Something that will make her the exception to my hard and fast rule... Sheā€™s battle scarred herself, and running scared from a dark past which snaps at her heels, but Iā€™m not going to let anyone hurt her ever again, I swear to god. And maybe, if weā€™re lucky and we both want it hard enough, the two of us will finally get what we deserve.


Falling for the Competition

Falling for the Competition by Jen Smith

Itā€™s going to be the best summer ever for ambitious, overachieving Quinn. A huge history buff, not only has she landed her dream job interning in the archives department of the local castle, but her best friend will be working there too. However, Quinn isnā€™t the only one to be working in Archives this summer; Quinnā€™s academic rival, Patrick, is sharing her office in Muniments. Theyā€™re competing for the Letter of Recommendation (singular) from the research historian that Quinn needs to get her dream future placement. Their emotionally-loaded and competitive rivalry turns into a reluctant friendship, as they spend every day working together in silence (and sharing the occasional Twix). Until the Re-Enactors arrive. Between Patrick and Harry ā€“ the Golden Knight of the jousting team ā€“ Quinnā€™s carefully planned summer is thrown into complete disarray. Meanwhile, her best friendā€™s relationship may look perfect on the outside, but Quinn is starting to realise that thereā€™s more going on than there seems. Although Quinn is determined and single minded about planning every detail of her sparkling future, she comes to discover that the best things in life are the spontaneous ones ā€“ and that some people are more important than any Letter of Recommendation (singular) could ever be.


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