A new angsty second chance stand alone in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s steamy Record series.
Savannah Maxwell’s life is perfect.
She landed her dream job, is moving to D.C. after graduation, and finally has plans to live with her long-term boyfriend, Easton. Everything is exactly how it should be.
Until the boy next door walks back into her life.
Now, Lucas Atwood is offering her everything she’s ever wanted.
The life she only dreamed of.
How can she choose between the easy love that she thinks she deserves and a second chance with the boy who broke her heart?
To read the other books in The Record Series, visit to below to meet the other Maxwell’s:
https://www.kalinde.com/book-series/record-2/
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the 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, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.
When I finally come face to face with the street artist standing on the side of the pavement, his guitar case open and full of rolled-up notes and change, I understand why his grandfather told me I’d recognize him with the self-assurance of an avid believer.
I’ve never seen someone like him before.
He is beautiful, true, but that’s not what stands out to me. He is radiant.
It’s like his presence has a presence. He sucks the air out of everything in his vicinity, making it impossible not to look at him. Malachy is tailor-made for a huge, colossal heartbreak. Everything about him—his tattered jeans, filthy boots, white shirt, and leather jacket that was broken in decades ago—screams trouble. He looks like a seventies heartthrob. An icon. A Terry Richardson muse. Bruce Springsteen pre-fame.
His voice is like honey and warm spices. It lulls me into a place in my mind I’ve never been before, even though it’s far from beautiful. It is gruff, throaty, and smoky. When someone bumps my shoulder to get closer to him, I snap out of my reverie and realize what I’m listening to.
“One” by U2.
The coincidence is strange. I try to tell myself it’s nothing. This is Ireland. U2 is a national treasure.
His eyes are squeezed shut as he sings. It’s like no one exists other than him and his guitar. Something warm rushes through my skin, like a heat wave, and I shudder in delight.
Warmth.
I always thought there was something melancholy about street performers—the way people walk past them, ignoring their music, their art, their passion. But this guy, he’s the one doing the ignoring. The tables have turned. He’s got the crowd eating from the palm of his hand. Every woman here is under a thick, sweet spell. He’s got that Harry Styles quality that makes girls want to bed him and older women want to adopt him. The men are a cross between impatient, annoyed, and jealous. You can see it in the way they tap their feet, check their watches, nudge their wives and girlfriends to move it.
The song ends, and Malachy Doherty cracks his eyes open and stares directly at me, like he knew I’d be here. Like he watched me watching him through closed eyes. Disoriented—and for some reason wanting to do something, anything—I throw a bill into his guitar case and look away, realizing to my horror that I threw the fifty euros his grandpa gave me. Everyone around me murmurs and whistles. They think it was intentional. I can feel my face flaming red. I bet he thinks I want to sleep with him.
Do I? Probably. But should he know that? Hell no.
About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.
She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.
Outmatched, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling authors Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young.
What happens when a boxer finds chemistry with a geek?
Parker Brown can’t believe she needs to hire a fake boyfriend. When she landed her dream job in renewable energy, she thought she’d be entering a world at the forefront of progressive thinking. But the head boss prefers to promote employees who are “settled.” Thankfully, she’s found the perfect candidate, a fellow intellectual looking for some quick cash. What Parker gets is his protective big brother—Rhys Morgan. The tall, muscled ex-boxer with a foul mouth shows up just as her boss does, and now she’s stuck with the manipulative jerk.
Responsibility weighs heavily on Rhys. Now permanently out of the ring, he’s trying to hold together his late father’s gym and keep his younger brother, Dean, on the straight and narrow. To save Dean from himself, Rhys takes his place, ready to give this society girl a piece of his mind. Instead, he finds an opportunity. Even though they can hardly stand each other, posing as Parker’s boyfriend is a win-win deal. She gets to keep her job, and he’ll charm her star-struck boss into sponsoring his gym.
Problem is, they can barely keep their hands off each other. And what started as an easy deal isn’t so easy anymore. Because what future can a rough ex-boxer, afraid to open his heart, and a polished society geek, who has sworn off real relationships, possibly have?
They say opposites attract. These opposites are about to combust on impact.
My phone dinged loudly. I fumbled around my bed, finally finding the damn thing under a pillow. Wiping the sleep off my face, I rolled onto my back and read the text that had pulled me out of a pleasant sleep. I smiled. It was just so … Parker. Settling in, I answered her.
RhysThis: Don’t have to tell me who you are. Your number is programmed on my phone. What do you want?
AngryTink: Well, good morning to you too, Happy Pants.
My smile turned into an evil grin. The girl was always going to punch back and make it count.
RhysThis: That’s Mr. Happy Pants. Though, TBH, my pants aren’t too happy at the moment. Want to help me out with that?
AngryTink: Tempting. Truly. But, no.
RhysThis: RU sure? ‘Cuz Happy Pants Rhys is much more agreeable than Sad That He Had to Self-Satisfy Rhys.
AngryTink: Would you please behave?
RhysThis: I’m not the one who mentioned the emotional state of my pants.
AngryTink: ARGH!
A chuckle rumbled in my chest as my thumbs tapped out a response I knew would piss her off more.
RhysThis: Was that even English? Honestly, Ms. Brown, I thought you were educated.
She took a moment to answer. I could picture her, phone in hand, grinding her teeth.
AngryTink: You’re deliberately trying to annoy me, aren’t you?
RhysThis: You’re quick. I’ll give you that.
AngryTink: Mr. Morgan, I’m about ten seconds away from finding an alternate fake boyfriend. A goat on a rope would be a better candidate at this point.
It was cute she thought that was threatening.
RhysThis: Yeah, probably. But the goat doesn’t have a signed contract. I do, Tinker Bell.
AngryTink: ARGH@!!
RhysThis: You’re kind of cute when you talk pirate.
Outmatched is a sweet sports romance. I am really struggling with how to express my thoughts on this one. This will probably be the shortest review I have written on a book, other than a novella.
While I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters, it took me way too long to read this book. I found myself having no drive to finish the book but I did want to know what happened within the pages, even though I know the characters get their HEA. I think part of the drive was wondering what would happen to finally get them there, but what kept me from digging in was the lack of really strong characters and plot.
If I have confused you in the slightest, then you understand why I am struggling to write this review. LOL In all honesty, I think it was the small bits of drama thrown in that kept me interested, but the pace of the story kept me from reading faster and diving in at any chance I could.
All in all – I can see many people enjoying this book. I think had it been more fast paced, I would have it been more compelled to read it in a shorter time frame. And please don’t think I wanted an insta-romance (I am the last person to ever want that), but everything just moved slower than I would like. I did enjoy them getting to know one another felt the actual timeline made sense – but the flow just wasn’t for me. The characters felt authentic and the secondary characters kept things entertaining.
Overall, a sweet book with a dash of drama to add some flair to the story line. I love both authors dearly and definitely looking forward to reading future books from each.
About Kristen:
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Play On. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.
“The perfect blend of soul crushing angst, laugh out loud wit and heart melting romance.”–Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author
From USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author L.J. Shen comes a new, contemporary romance with heart-wrenching twists and laugh-out-loud moments. This standalone is like no other by this author. In The Unlikely Event is available now!
“Romance masterpiece” – Kylie Scott, New York Times bestselling author
Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.
A one-night stand born from vengeance in a foreign land.
An explosive chemistry neither of us could deny.
We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together.
Eight years and thousands of miles later, he’s here.
In New York.
And he’s America’s music obsession.
The intangible Irish poet who brings record executives to their knees.
The blizzard in my perfect, unshaken snow globe.
Last time we spoke, he was a beggar with no intention of becoming a king.
But a king he became, and now I’m his servant.
I’m not the same broken princess Malachy Doherty put back together with his callused hands.
I have a career I love.
A boyfriend I adore.
An apartment, a roommate, a life.
I changed. He changed, too.
But Mal kept the napkin.
Question is, will I keep my word?
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.
She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.
You might be wondering how you’ll know when your playboy ways are coming to an end. For some it might be an unexpected pregnancy (ahem… you know who), for others it might be finally landing the one woman you’ve always wanted (cough… I won’t mention any names). For me, it was the death of my mentor and the subsequent reading of their will.
The signs were there, they always are. But I didn’t notice them until it was too late, and my demise was complete.
Demise Sign #1– You find yourself thrust into the land of responsibility and you don’t immediately hightail it out of town.
Demise Sign #2– Despite being stuck with the world’s biggest Jekyll & Hyde, some sadistic part of you actually enjoys spending time with her.
Demise Sign #3– Your family suddenly stops wanting to weigh in on every decision in your life.
Demise Sign #4– Somehow you end up being the voice of reason in your tumultuous partnership.
Demise Sign #5 –You start thinking of other people before yourself.
Demise Sign #6– You agree to put yourself in the middle of an Alaskan reality TV show that has both of you sleeping in the same tent.
Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline). A little about us… We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.
“Callihan and Young teamed up in what can only be described as a winning combo of heavyweight championship proportions. Sexy, sassy and so much fun, Outmatched was a page turner that I wished never ended. I want MORE!” — USA Today Bestselling Author T Gephart
Outmatched, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling authors Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young, is LIVE!
What happens when a boxer finds chemistry with a geek?
Parker Brown can’t believe she needs to hire a fake boyfriend. When she landed her dream job in renewable energy, she thought she’d be entering a world at the forefront of progressive thinking. But the head boss prefers to promote employees who are “settled.” Thankfully, she’s found the perfect candidate, a fellow intellectual looking for some quick cash. What Parker gets is his protective big brother—Rhys Morgan. The tall, muscled ex-boxer with a foul mouth shows up just as her boss does, and now she’s stuck with the manipulative jerk.
Responsibility weighs heavily on Rhys. Now permanently out of the ring, he’s trying to hold together his late father’s gym and keep his younger brother, Dean, on the straight and narrow. To save Dean from himself, Rhys takes his place, ready to give this society girl a piece of his mind. Instead, he finds an opportunity. Even though they can hardly stand each other, posing as Parker’s boyfriend is a win-win deal. She gets to keep her job, and he’ll charm her star-struck boss into sponsoring his gym.
Problem is, they can barely keep their hands off each other. And what started as an easy deal isn’t so easy anymore. Because what future can a rough ex-boxer, afraid to open his heart, and a polished society geek, who has sworn off real relationships, possibly have?
They say opposites attract. These opposites are about to combust on impact.
About Kristen: Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Play On. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.
CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
From New York Times bestselling author Meghan March comes a new deliciously dangerous alpha hero in The Fall of Legend, the first book in the brand new and utterly addictive Legend trilogy.
We come from two different worlds.
I’m from the streets. She might as well live in an ivory tower.
I made my living with my fists. I doubt she could even throw a punch.
Our paths never should have crossed.
We never should have met.
That doesn’t change the facts.
I would sell my soul to taste those red lips.
Fight the devil himself to hear her laugh.
Burn in hell to have a single night.
Scarlett Priest shouldn’t even know men like me exist, but sometimes temptation is stronger than will.
If this is how I go down, it’ll be worth every second of the fall.
The Fall of Legend is the start of Meghan’s newest trilogy. As with all of Meghan’s books, you know you’re going to get drama and high stakes. This book is no stranger to any of that.
We are immediately thrown into some suspense with Scarlett finding herself kidnapped & wrapped up in a rug. When she comes face to face with her captors, it’s none other than the myth himself, Gabriel Legend. Except she has no clue why she’s there. And when he presents her with a proposition, her only option is to accept.
What neither expected when Scarlett agreed to his proposition was their inability to stay away from one another. But there’s one problem, Scarlett’s boyfriend and VP of her father’s company.
Meghan does a great job of giving us small pieces of a bigger puzzle that has us guessing what could possibly happen in future books. Legend himself has quite the sketchy past and we only know bits and pieces and what led him to where he is now.
The suspense of Legend’s past plus the unknown with Scarlett’s boyfriend keep things even more interesting. I love the dynamics between Scarlett and Legend. It’s a beautiful buildup and when they let go – WOW!!
I’m excited to see where this trilogy goes and what is unraveled in future books. Meghan has definitely found her niche in this romance world and writes these stories beautifully.
About the author:
Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.
Sign up for Meghan’s newsletter and receive exclusive content that she saves for her subscribers: http://meghanmarch.com/subscribe
To get the inside scoop on a daily basis, search Meghan March’s Runaway Readers on Facebook and join the fun!
R.S. Grey’s next romantic comedy, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, is available today! Find out more below and grab your copy now!
About HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
I’ve spent eight years wishing I’d fall out of love with Derek Knightley. Blowing out birthday candles, chasing after shooting stars, making it rain spare change into mall fountains—every time it’s the same wish: forget about Derek.
But the day he walks back into my life, I realize there are two things time has yet to soften: my feelings for him and his chiseled jawline.
It’s infuriating that my heart still races when he walks into a room. I refuse to fall prey to old unrequited love, so I decide the less I’m around him, the better. Avoidance is key.
Unfortunately, Derek isn’t going to make it easy. As a teenager, I would have crawled on my hands and knees to attract his attention. Now I can’t seem to escape it.
I’m not sure why he’s bothering. He’s not just out of my league—he’s out of my tax bracket. As the sole heir to the Knightley Company, he’s as close to American royalty as you can get. As for me, I’m just a part-time princess at Knightley’s flagship magical theme park.
I spend my days playing make-believe, but Derek has no use for fairytales. His unwavering confidence makes it clear he thinks I’ll surrender in the end.
Ok – first off, I swear this cover is Rachel and her husband!! And if it’s truly not, well, it should be!!
As you all know, the contemporary romance reads are ones that I must be in right mindset to read and truly be in the mood to read them. However, I can never not read anything that R.S Grey releases, whether I am in the mood or not.
His Royal Highness is truly a fairytale romance that will melt hearts. And while I may have not been in the right mindset when I started reading this, I can guarantee you that Rachel’s writing and her characters made me feel every single emotion while reading.
I loved this story so much. A story evolving from unrequited love to friends to lovers romance mingled with the perfect dose of angst – it’s a match made in heaven, or in this case, a theme park. While readers know that Whitney has (or had) strong feelings for Derek, it was watching Derek develop these new feelings as these got to know each other on another level.
Rachel always writes her characters with conviction and authenticity that’s is impossible to not be pulled into the story. For someone who is not a true contemporary romance lover, Rachel always pulls the emotions from me and makes me fall in love with fairytale stories, like this one.
His Royal Highness is a love story that is impossible to not love and enjoy all the sweetness that is packed into this book. Another fabulous story by the amazing R.S. Grey.
About R.S. Grey
R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga! Visit her at rsgrey.com
William Kade is a ruthless businessman who plays dirty. He titillates all women and is rejected by none.
An orphan who comes from nothing, William has built an empire from a gaming club and an illegal fight club with his best friend and mentor, Charles. However, when profits decline, Charles and William decide to open the first hardcore sex club in the U.S.
With plans in the works to expand that business, they’re forced to take drastic measures to secure enough cash to pay the gaming club debts. Drastic measures that involve Ivy, a woman William already has unfinished business with. A woman who might be the only female that equally annoys and intrigues him.
But when William and Ivy start playing a dangerous game, the stakes become higher with each passing day until no one can find a sane way out.
A dark erotic, modern historical romance.
From Soraya Naomi, International Bestselling Author of the Chicago Syndicate series.
William snagged a glass of champagne from a passing footman’s tray and
downed it in one gulp in time to deposit the empty glass on another, replacing
it with a second drink. A smirk flitted across his face when he spotted the
woman in the blue dress in the far corner. It had to be her with those curls
flowing magnificently to her lower back, the tips ending right above her ass –
an ass he could sink his teeth into. Why he needed to see her face, he didn’t
know or particularly care. Moving toward her, he noticed how she kept quiet and just observed the men around her.
And when she turned her head, William stopped dead in his tracks. As she
stood under the light of the chandelier, he noticed that her hair had a deep
reddish glow, a color he had certainly not seen before. She was quite young,
not yet a woman. Her skin seemed so soft to the touch. And her face was one he was most likely never to forget. Her eyes were a vibrant blue and magnificently huge, made even more remarkable because of her thick, reddish-brown curls. Her high cheekbones and deliciously plump, pink lips caught his attention next. The
lady had an air of innocence and arrogance that had his cock twitching in his pants. She was perusing the room with a perceptive expression, and her eyes passed William before she stopped and slowly looked back at him.
He kept his stare locked on her face. There was something familiar in her
features.
Her eyes widened a touch when he started to move toward her little group.
“Gentlemen.” He shook hands and smiled at her – she didn’t return the
favor.
They all greeted him and relayed him with questions about the gaming
club. William answered them while stealing glances at the girl, who was
starting to look for an escape.
Did she know William had seen her and her lover in the room?
What really bothered him was why no one had introduced her to him.
When a heated political discussion regarding liquor ignited, William took
his opportunity to talk to her.
She was standing right across from him now. He noticed that she was
neither short nor tall, but somewhere roughly in the middle. And she had a
small dusting of freckles on her nose.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced, Miss…”
She arched a perfectly plucked brow but kept silent, leaving William at a
loss for words – for the first time ever. She definitely knew he’d caught her
in a lover’s embrace.
As he leisurely examined her, he realized she was indeed young but made a considerable effort to look older with makeup and a revealing low cut dress, the swell of her small breasts that were on display absolutely enthralling to him. He took a sip of his drink and kept gawking at her over the rim of his glass since he was enjoying how uncomfortable his attention was making her.
“Stop staring at me,” she hissed, low enough for only William to hear.
A corner of his mouth slowly rose. “Why so shy?”
She straightened her back and ran her fingers through her hair, that air
of arrogance still surrounding her, and William thought that perhaps she was
one of Anne’s juvenile friends.
“Where were you during dinner?” he wanted to know.
Her lips trembled, and she glanced around anxiously.
Rudely, she spun around to leave, but William stopped her by the elbow,
releasing her immediately before anyone saw their encounter.
Then he slipped behind her, without touching, and leaned in close to her
ear. “Off to another rendezvous?”
Her head turned, their lips a breath apart, and she answered while gazing
at his mouth, “No, not everyone’s like you. At least I have the decency to find
the privacy of a room.”
Finally, she admitted that she’d seen him too, probably when he’d had
Anne pressed against the wall.
“Who are you?” he blurted, becoming slightly annoyed by her conceit.
She stepped away from him and gave him a brash grin that he felt directly
in his cock. “Wouldn’t you like to know…”
William was completely perplexed by this girl, and all he could think to
ask was, “How old are you?”
She didn’t utter a word.
“I’ll find out whether you tell me or not,” he added on a whisper.
Without acknowledging his statement, she paced away briskly, leaving the
other men oblivious to what had just transpired between the two of them.
William smiled at her retreating form, promising himself to find out more
about this smug woman.
Author Bio
Soraya
Naomi is the author of the Chicago Syndicate Mafia series. She writes
provocative novels with a sinfully seductive blend of romance, suspense &
men who love hard and at all costs. The Chicago Syndicate series – #1 Amazon
Organized Crime series – has been translated into several languages.
Soraya has
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Arts, Media & Culture from Erasmus University
Rotterdam.
Apart from
indulging in chocolate pastries much too often, Soraya Naomi is also an avid
reader. She has a passionate obsession with the written word and reads many
genres but favors intense, seductive, and provocative novels where the male
character loves fiercely, without remorse or boundaries. She adores Dark Romances,
Romantic Suspense, Historical Romances, New Adult, and PNR.
Her debut
novel For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate,
#1) was released on July 26, 2014. She’s honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the Novel Grounds Semi
Annual Literary Awards.
Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author
M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance,
triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the
Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein.
She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left.
She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces.
They have two German Shepherd mixes and a Tabby cat.
About LJ Shen
About LJ Shen
