From #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a standalone office RomCom about what happens when the one you walked away from was now not only your boss but also your new partner in a high-stakes office game…
I liked to think things happened in threes: 1. My girlfriend ghosted me and changed her number. 2. I got promoted, but I worked for Satan. 3. Months later, said girlfriend was back in my life, working underneath me as an intern.
Ah, the universe had jokes, ha, ha, hilarious.
All I had to do was survive the fourth annual Emory Games, a ridiculous office bonding game that Max Emory, our CEO, put on every year to help boost company morale and encourage the new interns. Yeah, just ask me if they felt encouraged after diving into shark-infested waters. Don’t worry… only one person got hurt, and the accidental death paperwork was sound. I had to work with her as my partner for a full week, and then I could bounce back to my department, pretend that she hadn’t broken my heart, and run me over with my own truck for good measure.
I should have been focused on the games, except again, things happened in threes… 1. She’s my partner. 2. She’s hiding something. 3. I may have fallen on her and kissed her. It’s a thing, it actually happens in real life—people just fall, and mouths meet, and what are you going to do?
Hi, my name is Ace Harley, and I am two point five seconds away from marching down to HR and begging for therapy.
Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she’s been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.
The conclusion to the Wright duet age gap romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde.
Chase Sinclair should be my enemy.
Wrights and Sinclairs don’t mix. Not with years of history and turmoil between our families. A rivalry that only seems to fester and corrode with time.
Except I’m done denying what I want.
We both are.
Just when we think we have it figured out, it all blows up in our faces.
But we’re determined to make this work. Even knowing that the road ahead is uncertain. And everyone wants us to fail. At least we’re doing this together.
Everything is on the line. Our friends, our families, our careers. And we’d give it all up.
He may be from the wrong family, but he’s my Wright person.
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of both romance and fantasy novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was a head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.
This fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.
Cold Hearted Casanova, an all-new forced proximity, opposites attract, billionaire romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is now available!
Riggs Bates may be a billionaire, but he knows money can’t buy happiness. He keeps his financial status a secret and takes his women the same way he takes his meals—a different one three times a day. That’s until he’s caught sleeping with a married newswoman by none other than her ambitious assistant.
Daphne “Duffy” Markham wants two things in life: marry well and stay in the States. So when her almost-fiancé takes off to “find himself” and her work visa approaches expiration, Duffy resorts to the only thing she has left—blackmail. Luckily, Riggs needs an excuse to stay in New York as badly as she does, so their first meeting quickly leads to a begrudging engagement.
Armed with strict house rules and their mutual distaste for one another, Riggs and Duffy soon find there’s no denying the spark between them…or the fact that this fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.
Keep reading for a look inside Cold Hearted Casanova!
“Does Mary Poppins have a name?”
“Daphne Markham.” Gretchen twisted her mouth in repulsion, as though the very thought of me depressed her. “She’s my assistant.”
Now I was standing there in my flowery Ellie Nap jigsaw dress—I couldn’t leave my flat in the same jammies I’d collected biscuit crumbs on—being roasted by these two cheaters. The amount of rock bottoms I’d hit today had me sinking to a whole different galaxy.
“Assuming your temper out of bed is as ferocious as it is inside it, I’m guessing there’s not a whole lot of motivation on her part to keep her mouth shut,” Demigod said to Gretchen.
“Please. As though if she liked me, it’d have made a difference.” My boss began buttoning her torn blouse. “Money is money, and she’s very fond of it.”
What gave it away? My weakness for designer clothes or the fact I dated BJ Abbott, the heir to a real estate mogul?
Formerly dated, I reminded myself.
“Then how ’bout we grease her palm a little?” Demigod suggested. “Make it worth her while to keep her pretty little mouth shut.”
My eyes ping-ponged between them. For once, I held back my snarky remarks. I wanted to see where this was going.
Gretchen huffed. “Take it seriously, Riggs!”
Riggs. What a peculiar name for a peculiar person.
And a single one too.
“I am serious.” Riggs flashed a perfect set of teeth. “As you said, money is money, and you’ve got a fuck ton of it, babe.”
Riggs had a tattoo of a mountain on his inner bicep, and beneath it, a list of famous mountains: Mount Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and so on. The entire list had been crossed off, other than Denali.
He was a mountain climber. How odd that the only major mountain he hadn’t climbed was in Alaska.
How odd that you’d be thinking about his mountain-climbing career while contemplating blackmailing him. Which, by the way, was the direction I was currently leaning toward.
“Fine!” Gretchen swiveled, training her venom-filled gaze on my face. “What’s your price?”
“Take me with you to DC,” I blurted out.
It was the only way I could stay here and wait for BJ, which, for a reason beyond my grasp, was something I was still entertaining, even after he’d screwed me over tonight.
She stared at me for a long moment before tossing her arms in the air and bursting into a tearless sob.
“They won’t let me bring my own staff. Let alone consider a foreigner for a White House job.”
“I need someone to sponsor my visa.” I laced my arms over my chest.
“I can do that!” Gretchen’s eyes lit up. “I can get you interviews with all the networks in Manhattan.”
I shook my head. “I’m not talking interviews. I’m talking about a visa. One I could use to gain employment anywhere. No strings attached.” I was done being metaphorically squeezed by the bollocks by a network that knew I depended on it to stay in the country. Plus, I wanted to make my own hours and negotiate a better salary. And though my inclination was to remain in the news industry—it was fast paced, glamorous, and full of opportunities—I couldn’t help but internally admit to myself that I found the news . . . well, quite boring.
I turned to look Riggs in the eye. “Mary Poppins here isn’t thick.”
“But I am.” Riggs winked mischievously. He was in the process of rolling himself another joint, licking the edge of the paper with expertise. “And no offense, but smart people don’t usually work for tyrants.”
“At least I’m not sleeping with one,” I said pointedly.
He offered me the spliff. I shook my head. He shrugged. “Assholes make great lovers and shitty employers. Source: science.”
“I don’t think you know what science means.” I glared at him.
“Of course I do. It’s that thing with the test tubes and smoke bubbling out of them. Oh, don’t forget the funny goggles.”
He treated the entire thing like it was a joke.
“So you’re okay with this behavior?” I motioned to Gretchen, who was busy crying into her palms theatrically, producing zero tears and loads of drama. “She’s my fuck buddy, not my mother.”
“Back to the topic!” Gretchen interjected, not seeming to be bothered by how she’d been openly labeled as an abuser by both of us. “How am I supposed to secure you a visa? The last thing I need is to meddle with the immigration office while I work for POTUS.”
“There are other ways to secure a visa.” I examined my fingernails, which were squarely trimmed and cream colored. I idly wondered if I’d lost my mind, with what I was about to propose. It was possible. Probable, even. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
“There are?” Gretchen eyed me warily.
“I could marry him.” I pointed at Riggs.
The man was so surprised he actually whipped his head around to see if there was another person behind him. He turned back to me, stubbing his bare chest. “You weren’t talking about me, were you?”
“Indeed I was. You’re American, aren’t you?”
He lit up his spliff, taking a long drag. “I’d like to think of myself as a citizen of the world.”
“Do you travel said world with a blue passport issued in the United States of America?” I arched an eyebrow.
His flat-lined expression said it all. “If you want to get all technical.”
“Good enough for me. So. When’s a good time for us to get married?” I asked, businesslike. I produced my phone from my purse and checked my calendar. “I have a mani-pedi tomorrow after work, and a facial on Saturday, but otherwise I’m free.”
Though I could probably cancel the facial if he needed me to be flexible. Teamwork was one of my fortes.
“Sorry, it might be the accent.” He fished his black tee from between the pillows of the couch, then slid it on. “But it sounded like you just dropped the m-bomb.”
“Marriage is not profanity.”
“No. It’s not.” Riggs slam-dunked his empty bottle into a bin across the room as he sucked on his rollie. “Marriage is worse than profanity. Profanity is fun, creative, humorous; take cum dumpster, for example. Great word, right?”
“You mean two words.” I wrinkled my nose. “Let’s hope you don’t pass your dazzling math skills to our children.” Now I was just being cheeky. Since sperm was mentioned, and all.
Riggs shuddered. “The c-word. You really are a sadistic creature, Poppins.”
Gretchen looked between us, growing desperate. “Riggs, please.”
He sneered. “You’re nuts if you think I’d ever entertain this, sweet cheeks.” “It’s just a piece of paper. She could destroy my career!” Gretchen threw herself at him suddenly, like a damsel in distress. I stood there, having the distinct feeling tonight was stretching over approximately five months. Was Mercury in retrograde?
But Riggs gave no indication he was about to cave in, instead shaking her off his arm. “Find another career then. I’m sure there’s a small repressed country in need of a new authoritarian. I’m not marrying anyone, for any reason, at any time.”
“You owe me!” Her palms collided with his chest, and she seemed more mental than ever. “Please. This can’t be the end of my career. You know there’s no going back from a sex scandal for a woman in politics.”
She slid down his body, begging him on her knees now.
He stared her down, his jaw square, his eyes dead. What was it that revolted him more, I wondered—the fact that she’d begged him to sacrifice his freedom for her, or the prospect of marrying me?
I knew I wasn’t the sort of woman men like Riggs went for. While I was perfectly decent looking, I wasn’t as in-your-face sexy as Gretchen, who, at forty, looked like a Hollywood bombshell, with curves for miles, luscious blonde hair, and a pout that had seen more syringes than a drug addict. I’d taken the Kate Middleton route. With fresh brunette locks, conservative dresses, and a willowy frame without much to grab. Le sigh. If only anxiety and insecurities were grab-able.
Riggs clasped her chin, tilting her face up.
“This is not the kind of begging I’m into, and my mind won’t change.” His voice was soft but final. “Now get up and dust off.”
“Bloody hell!” It was my turn to lose my temper. “I was just joking about the children part. I’d rather remove my own teeth with a pair of tweezers than have you contaminating my DNA pool. Give it up, mate.”
“Sorry, Poppins, I don’t do monogamy.” He finished the last of his spliff.
“I don’t do delusional,” I responded with an eye roll. “It’s going to be completely fake. On paper only.”
“It is not going to happen.”
“I’ll pay you,” I blurted out in a fit of desperation.
His jaw dropped mockingly. “You mean I’ll have access to the unfathomable wealth and splendor accumulated by a lowly cable news assistant?”
“National,” I corrected. “And judging by your clothes, you could use all the help you can get.”
His shirt was faded, his belt halfway torn off. My comment left a sour taste in my mouth—commenting on people’s clothes was bad form, but the adrenaline coursing through me made me say and do unlikely things.
Riggs’s eyes widened, and I had a feeling that his funds, or lack thereof, were a very serious business for him. “You’re the shallowest, bitchiest, meanest woman I’ve ever met—and I’ve met plenty.”
My belly slithered with venomous snakes. I was usually thick skinned, but Riggs’s impression of me hit home, because . . . well, because I rather agreed with him.
“Just go, Riggs.” Gretchen’s voice cracked. Her head lolled between her shoulders, like she was boneless. “You’re not going to help me, and you’re not making things better.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” He shoved his feet into dirty army boots and slung an old backpack over his shoulder. “Good luck.”
He stormed away, leaving both of us to stand there, like we were in a duel.
Maybe it was a duel. Maybe it had always been a duel between Gretchen Beatty and me.
Only now, one thing was for certain.
She knew my gun was cocked, loaded, and ready to fire.
Cold Hearted Casanova is the third and final book in the Cruel Castaways series and can easily be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed this story and it helped that it was written in dual POVs so readers are able to get a better understanding of the characters and their mannerisms.
While the blurb gives you an idea of what happens, things don’t exactly play out that way. However, I did enjoy what did happen and how things played out.
Cold Hearted Casanova plays out at a great pace and while there are parts that seemed too out there (even for a fictional story), and the lack of communication in parts, it did not take away from the overall story.
All in all, I enjoyed this one and found it entertaining.
For more information about L.J. Shen and her books, visit her website:
From Amazon #1 bestselling author Amy Daws, comes an all-new small town, spicy romance sure to hit you in the gut with laughs, feels, and mountain man grunts. Help Wanted: Grumpy Mountain Man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting in the form of communication and nosey brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.
I wanted to pummel my irritating brothers when they posted their own version of a wanted ad to help me with my life.
But I can’t fault the results once the right woman lands on my lap.
Becoming a single father is not a decision I made lightly. In fact, it’s the biggest decision of my entire life.
Which is why when I interview Trista, I know she’s perfect.
She’s wild, she’s opinionated, she wears cowboy boots. Even my pet goat loves her…
She’s the exact type of person I was holding out for.
And to my great horror, I realize on our first night of attempting this baby making dance…when the lights are low, the cheap wine is flowing, and the home insemination supplies are laid out on the kitchen counter…
I want to do a lot more than just make her my surrogate. I want to make her mine.
Nine Month Contract is a full standalone featuring the Wyatt (one of four Fletcher brothers) and Trista. There are characters from a pervious book (Last on the List) but you can go into this book without having read it before and still enjoy this fully.
I love how Amy had this story played out. I love that she takes a very personal decision and shows all the different aspects that comes with going down the surrogacy road. But what I appreciate alot, is that Amy shows not one person is the same in their response to this decision.
This story plays out in a very entertaining yet realistic way with these characters. Trista and Wyatt are very open and honest with one another from the start and that continues throughout the story as they have no problems with communication.
Amy stays true to these characters and their mannerisms throughout the story. Trista tends to laugh through difficult times and that bleeds into her very humorous personality. Wyatt is very protective of anyone he truly values and those he loves and you see that throughout the story.
You can see how Wyatt and Trista navigate their new normal. I love that these two are serious but also lighthearted about it to keep things from getting too serious, which fits their personalities well. Neither of these characters ever take anything lightly but their upbringings play a huge role in how they both respond to different situations and that makes this story all the more authentic.
Overall, Amy writes a truly entertaining and enjoyable story that readers will appreciate.
Excerpt
“By the way…I’m ovulating right now, so I say we get this show on the road when I get back to the mountain tonight.”
Trista, my hired surrogate, sped off in her van, leaving me in a wake of nerves and anxiety. I wore a path on my wood floor, pacing my house and waiting for her to return. I knew this day was coming. I just didn’t know exactly when. And now that it’s here…I’m not sure how to prepare for it.
A knock interrupts my obsessive thoughts, and I realize it’s her.
Time to make a baby.
I open the door and stupidly grunt out, “I went to the Mercantile and picked up pizza.”
She holds up two brown bags in her hand. “I picked up booze.”
She kicks off her beat-up cowboy boots and marches past me, dropping her purse on my small farm table like she’s been in my place a million times…which she hasn’t. I watch her curiously as she props her hands on her hips and assesses the space for a second before making her way toward the kitchen, giving no outward reaction to the home I built with my bare hands.
Not that I need her approval on this house, but I guess I just…I don’t know what I want. A baby. That’s what I want. That should be all that I want from this woman.
She sets the brown bags on my butcher-block island and pulls out two bottles of white wine. Without pause, she twists the cap off one and takes a swig straight from the bottle.
My brows lift. It’s going to be that kind of night.
“These were two for seven bucks at the gas station, and it tastes like it.” She coughs and winces at the taste.
“Do you want something else?” I offer, making a move to my refrigerator. “I only have beer.”
“No,” she mutters and takes another quick sip. “I’m not a very big drinker, but I’m nervous as shit, and lots of people get pregnant drunk, so…science. How are you doing?”
Her candid response is more comforting than she realizes. I haven’t known Trista for long, but I like that she calls a spade a spade. I move to stand next to her at the island, noticing how much smaller she is out of her boots.
I point at the second bottle. “Is that other one for me?”
She silently slides it over, and I twist the cap off and join her in the wine-bottle-chugging experience. I shudder at the horrible taste because I’m not a wine drinker…but I will be tonight. I want her to feel supported through this, and if that means choking down a disgusting bottle of cheap wine, I’ll do it.
“Pizza?” I point at the box on the other side of her.
She nods and helps herself, mindlessly chomping down on a bite.
“I checked on the animals in the barn before I came in here, and they both looked very content in their pens,” she says around a mouthful. “That was really sweet of you to buy those troughs for Reggie. Sorry if I was a bitch about the pen thing.” She takes another swig.
“You weren’t a bitch.” I take another swig, eyeing her baggy T-shirt that’s covered in Millie hoof prints and a substance I can only assume is from the pig.
It’s odd to have Trista in my house. All of our meetings thus far have been pretty professional. And this whole concept of me hiring a surrogate felt like something that was never actually going to happen. It feels more real now that we’re here, face-to-face, without a lawyer talking for us. More personal. Like we’re letting our guards down.Probably because you’re about to put your cum inside her, my inner voice adds with a dirty sneer. I take a big drink.
Number 1 Amazon Bestselling author Amy Daws writes spicy love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond. She’s most known for her footy-playing Harris Brothers and writing in a tire shop waiting room. When Amy is not writing, she’s likely making charcuterie boards from her home in South Dakota where she lives with her daughter and husband.
Follow Amy on all social media channels, including Tik Tok under @amydawsauthor
For more of Amy’s work, visit: http://www.amydawsauthor.com
From USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a hot new hockey romance between a broken ballerina and the forbidden bad boy who saves her.
We all have dirty secrets. Some are just more fun to hide than others.
Ares Wilder is a so-called bad boy. A ladies man. The teammate most likely to fight both on and off the ice. And now this devastatingly dark and handsome hockey player with a sinful smile and a filthy mouth is my twin sister’s new brother-in-law, landing him firmly in the forbidden category.
Only he doesn’t see it that way.
Resisting him should be no big deal, right?
At least that’s what I thought…
Until one night, he manages to look past the illusion I’d spent a lifetime perfecting and see the broken girl behind the pink satin pointe shoes.
We were the perfect storm I never wanted to escape.
But with secrets piling up and my world crashing down, will Ares be one more thing I destroy?
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Ares Wilder is just that – The Knockout. And Grace, the good twin has no idea what she’s gotten herself into when he sets his sights on her.
Ares is the known the player, ladies man – you name it, and he’s not once denied it. Grace is the good twin; she’s the people pleaser and always puts others before herself. But these two definitely surprise one another.
“In case I didn’t say it, you looked really pretty in that dress, Grace.’…. “I would have looked even better out of it, Ares.”
I loved Ares and Grace’s story so much. I loved both these characters and how they brought out the best in one another, challenged one another. Bella let their story unfold in the most natural of ways for their respected careers and it felt so authentic.
“She’s not the song you dance to. She’s the lyric you can’t get out of your head.”
The Knockout may be a sports romance, but this definitely worth the read for any romance reader.
Meet Bella
Bella Matthews is a USA Today & Amazon Top 50 Bestselling author. She is married to her very own Alpha Male and raising three little ones. You can typically find her running from one sporting event to another. When she is home, she is usually hiding in her home office with the only other female in her house, her rescue dog Tinker Bell by her side. She likes to write swoon-worthy heroes and sassy, smart heroines. Sarcasm is her love language and big family dynamics are her favorite thing to add to each story.
A scorching hot small town, age gap, single father/nanny romance by USA Today bestselling author Willow Aster. When a judge falls for his younger nanny, can their love overcome the possibility of scandal? As I drive into the picturesque small town of Landmark Mountain after the whirlwind of college, I could never have expected a simple job opportunity would lead me to the deliciously sexy Sutton Landmark. But fate, it seems, wants to send my plans sideways.
Judge Sutton Landmark, a man whose gorgeous face, charisma, and chocolate brown eyes could charm the pants off of anyone. He needs a nanny for his son, Owen, and I need a break from textbooks and exams…and some time to figure out what I really want to do with my life.
However, one heated look from Sutton, and everything inside me ignites.
As I spend time with Sutton, I find myself falling for him. There’s a spark between us and a connection that simmers and dances in the air whenever we’re in the same room.
But Sutton’s prestigious position and the age gap between us casts a looming shadow over our happiness. Despite our hearts’ desires, fear and indecision hold us back from taking that leap of faith.
I want to believe that, despite the obstacles, anything is possible…
Even love against all odds.
I guess I’ll just have to jump in headfirst and stay to find out.
Stay is book five in the Landmark Mountain series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Historical Romance (Medieval); Dark Romance Series; Fairy Tale Retellings: Book Two (Standalone)
Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her grandmother on her deathbed.
Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.
United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.
Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?
Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate, slow-burn historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a world at harmony.
*Red Kingdom is a standalone installment in a series of reimagined fairy tales. Due to graphic content and mature themes, reader discretion is advised.
What you can expect from Red Kingdom…
Dark, Medieval Setting
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Broken Alpha Hero
Fierce Heroine
He Falls First
Age Gap
A Wolf Animal Companion
Angst
Redemption
Warring Kingdoms
Historical Intrigue
Epic Battles
Game of Thrones Vibes
WOW!! Fantastic read from Rachel!
For someone who’s not a fan of historical romance, Rachel definitely knows how to keep a reader vested in the story.
Red Kingdom is a unique take on the retelling of the fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood.
The story starts off with some great action but then Rachel takes readers into a deeper story, allowing readers to see who these characters are.
Red Kingdom is definitely more heavy on the plot & character development and less reliant on the romance and chemistry between Rowan & Blanchette. And honestly, that’s what made this story even more enticing.
Rachel delivers a story that has depth, many layers, and characters that readers will empathize with. I truly loved watching Rowan and Blanchette grow in their own ways as the story unfolded. It was just another layer to a very well plotted out story that gives readers the HEA they enjoy.
Red Kingdom is highly recommend to any fantasy or historical romance reader.
About the author
I live in Sunny California with my dashing husband, who inspires my romance novels every day!
I graduated from Chapman’s film school, where I often received the feedback on my scripts, “Your stories and characters are great, but this reads like a novel!” That’s when I realized my true calling.
I’m passionate about writing stories that explore what it means to be human and to be loved. My books focus on hope, courage, and redemption in the face of adversity.
In my free time, I frequent reptile expos, lift double my body’s weight, and indulge in dinosaur trivia.
Before he discovered my age, he uncovered my heart.
Bruised and abused, and victim to a loveless household, I shimmered with new life the moment he found me drowning my sorrows in a lake beneath the stars.
A chance encounter. An unspoken connection.
I was smitten; he was curious.
But, as everyone knew, fate could be decidedly cruel.
He called me Halley, like the comet.
I called him Reed.
And my best friend?
Well…she called him Dad.
Older is a forbidden, slow-burn, age-gap romance standalone, ending in a HEA.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
My first book by Jennifer and definitely not my last one.
Older is an age-gap, forbidden romance that definitely took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
This story is definitely character driven and readers get to truly see these characters struggle and grow as time moves forward.
This story is a true slow-burn and while I wanted to see more of their connection and not just Halley’s day-to-day doings, I could still get an idea of how things developed.
Jennifer knows how write a gripping story and even though this one had some mundane bits in the middle, overall it was a great story.
Definitely a forbidden romance that any romance reader will enjoy.
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.
Cold Hearted Casanova, an all-new forced proximity, opposites attract, billionaire romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is now available!
Riggs Bates may be a billionaire, but he knows money can’t buy happiness. He keeps his financial status a secret and takes his women the same way he takes his meals—a different one three times a day. That’s until he’s caught sleeping with a married newswoman by none other than her ambitious assistant.
Daphne “Duffy” Markham wants two things in life: marry well and stay in the States. So when her almost-fiancé takes off to “find himself” and her work visa approaches expiration, Duffy resorts to the only thing she has left—blackmail. Luckily, Riggs needs an excuse to stay in New York as badly as she does, so their first meeting quickly leads to a begrudging engagement.
Armed with strict house rules and their mutual distaste for one another, Riggs and Duffy soon find there’s no denying the spark between them…or the fact that this fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.
He’ll make her pay for her father’s crimes before taking revenge on the brothers who abandoned him.
The Hate I Feel, an all-new dark bully romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis, is now available!
Zayn Becker has struggled to protect his little brother in the aftermath of the car accident which claimed their parents’ lives. They lost everything that night except for each other. What subsequently happened at the group home devastated Roman and set Zayn on a vengeful path that leads to the elite.
When a mysterious guardian emerges, Zayn is more than willing to help take down the brothers who abandoned him and Roman as babies. But first, he targets the sweet, innocent daughter of the man who owns the group home.
Emery Copeland lives a blissfully sheltered life as the only daughter of wealthy parents. She’s not looking for a new relationship when Zayn sweeps her off her feet at summer school. Giving him her V-card feels right until his betrayal is revealed and her world implodes.
Kaiden Anderson hasn’t stopped searching for the brothers his father gave away. His desire to find them is all-consuming, especially now it seems they’re in danger.
Upon reuniting, Kai discovers Roman is broken and Zayn has a secret agenda. With the elite threat ever-present and their father in hiding overseas, Kai will stop at nothing to protect his youngest siblings.
Zayn regrets hurting Emery, and he’s determined to win her back despite how she keeps pushing him away. Protecting her and Roman becomes his new goal, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
Even if it means opening his heart to the brothers he once vowed to hate.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Everett asks as we loiter at the bottom of the stone steps leading to the building where our summer school classes are being held.
“What’s not to be sure about?” I pull a long drag of my cigarette, blowing smoke circles into the warm New York air. “I told you I’m going to make them pay. Every last fucker who has hurt me and Roman will suffer.”
“But Emery isn’t directly involved,” he protests, and it’s not the first time I’m hearing this argument from my best friend.
“No one asked you to enroll. If you’ve changed your mind, I can hack into the WLU system and remove you from the schedule.” I know he won’t back out because he needs this program as an excuse not to join his family in The Hamptons.
Everett blows strands of inky-black hair out of his eyes, turning to glare at me. “Quit being a dick. You know I’m on your side. I have stuck with you this far, and I’m not bailing. I just don’t like you using this chick to get back at her parents. She’s innocent.”
Tossing my cigarette butt on the ground, I stub it out with the toe of my sneaker. “But is she?” I arch a brow in his direction as I run a hand over my cropped dark hair. “She’s grown up surrounded by wealth. Living in her posh Tribeca penthouse. Vacationing in exotic locations. Wanting for nothing because of that asshole she calls Dad. She’s got to know he’s a shady fucker who hides his criminal enterprises behind a few legit businesses and fake charitable endeavors.” I swing my gaze around the imposing university campus. “If she’s here, she’s smart enough to know he didn’t generate that kind of wealth from a few tech shops and private group homes for troubled teens.”
“That doesn’t make this right,” he grumbles, removing a bottle of water from his backpack.
“What happened to my brother wasn’t right! You know what happened to Roman in that place,” I growl, my mood instantly darkening. Everett is the only person I told what went down, and I expect more understanding. “You know how Winston Copeland laughed in my face when I told him what that bitch had done.” Pushing off the stone pillar I’m leaning on, I swipe my backpack off the ground, my skin prickling with unspent rage. “He didn’t give a shit about right and wrong, and I’m sure as fuck not going to lose sleep when I exact payment from his daughter and leave her ruined.” I grind my teeth as I stare at him. “No one is forcing you to be here. If you’ve suddenly developed a conscience, feel free to leave.”
I push past my buddy—the only guy who still talks to me at school—bristling with anger and pent-up frustration. Everett is hardly the poster child for morality, and he’s starting to get on my last nerve.
Climbing the steps two at a time, I head toward the entrance doors, not waiting to see if he follows. I push through the doors, walking in the direction of the registration office. Everett narrows the distance between us with his long-legged stride, falling into silent step beside me as I walk along the eerily quiet hallway.
This year is the first year West Lorian University has opened its doors to advanced high-school students who wish to take prerequisite college courses before starting senior year. It’s a joint initiative with West Lorian High and a few other private high schools across NYC, including my school.
When I hacked into Emery Copeland’s tablet and discovered she was signed up for the program, I wasted no time in applying. I knew I’d get in because I’m a straight-A student with an above-average IQ. Throw in the orphan card, and it’s a done deal.
Our parents were strict about studying, and all three of us were encouraged to achieve our full potential through extracurricular classes and regular supervised study sessions. I was luckier than Roman or Penelope because things seem to come easily to me, and I never forget something once I have learned it.
After we register and officially pick up our schedules, we make our way to the auditorium for our first class. I already downloaded our schedules last week, ensuring we were attending all the same classes as Copeland’s precious princess.
“She’s over there,” Everett mutters under his breath, subtly jerking his head to the right as we step foot in the auditorium.
I take a moment to study her as I walk along the row directly behind my prey. Emery’s dark-red hair hangs in soft waves down her back, bouncing gently as she turns her head to speak to the brunette in the seat beside her. Flawless pale skin peeks out from behind her hair, and her startling green eyes move in my direction as we make our approach.
I stare at her, fixing her with a challenging look that dares her to keep looking at me. Two pink spots appear on her cheeks before she twists her head around, refocusing on the conversation with her friend.
I drop into the seat directly behind her, purposely breathing heavily on her hair as I deposit my bag on the ground between my feet. She stiffens, ever so imperceptibly, and I smirk as I hold my head still for a few beats, letting her feel the intensity of my attention.
Everett claims the seat beside me, pulling shit from his bag.
The brunette whips her head around, narrowing her eyes at me. “Do you mind?” She gestures toward Emery.
“Fuck off.” I drill her with a look that usually sends people scurrying for the hills. But this chick has balls. She flips me the bird, and I chuckle as I settle back in my seat, deliberately pushing my feet against the back of Emery’s chair.
“Asshole,” the brunette murmurs, turning around as the professor steps onto the podium and calls for quiet.
The rest of the morning follows the same pattern. Us trailing Emery and her pint-sized friend from lecture hall to lecture hall, sitting behind them in every class. She doesn’t turn around, but from her rigid stance, I know she’s aware of me. Most likely, she’s trying to figure me out.
I know I’m making her nervous, so I’ll consider that a win.
During lunch, I choose the table directly in front of them, situating myself so I’m staring her in the face.
“I thought the plan was to fuck her,” Everett says before biting into his burger.
“That’s still the plan.” I stab a piece of chicken, chewing it slowly as I drill a hard glare at the pretty redhead. Two nerds with slicked-back hair, wearing almost identical white polos with khaki shorts, slide onto the seats beside them, and I watch as Emery makes polite conversation while pretending she doesn’t feel my hatred burning a hole in the side of her skull.
“How does glaring at her like she’s the she-devil accomplish that goal?” Everett inquires.
“Chicks dig assholes. I’m just giving her what she wants.” I pierce my fork into another piece of chicken, watching Emery blush at something dweeb number one says.
Everett chuckles. “I’m glad I stuck around for this.” He sure has changed his tune. “I can’t wait to see how you get her to drop her panties in four weeks. She might as well have virgin stamped on her forehead.”
“You doubt my skills?” I tear my gaze from my target for a few seconds, quirking a brow at my friend.
“Fuck no. I’ll never bet against you.” His lips curl at the corners. “If you could persuade Terri Vickers to let you fuck her while Gray was in the next room at Crawford’s party, I know you’ve got this in the bag.”
I refocus on Emery, pleased to find her inquisitive eyes already on me. I stare at her as I make a meal out of licking my fork, enjoying the blush creeping up her neck. Dweeb number two glances over at me, a frown marring his brow, and I flip him off because he’s annoying me. She purses her lips in distaste, and I fight a smile.
Princess Emery is so prim and proper with her fake superiority and misguided pride.
I can’t wait to dirty her up.
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