Once upon a time, I thought I’d found my happy ever after. Until she ruined it all.
I’d been on the hunt for four long years, and I finally found her.
I planned the perfect revenge. Kidnapping Rapsody on the day she was set to marry another man and forcing her to face my wrath while trapped in the confines of my family’s gothic manor.
Despite my desire to punish her, there is still an undeniable pull between us. But as the walls of the manor close in around us, we both have to confront the truth. Can we trust each other, or will my dark past consume us both?
SHATTERED VOWS is a dark contemporary romance that weaves together the themes of desire and redemption and is a Rapunzel reimagining with the following tropes: age gap, anti-hero, gothic romance, secret society, forced proximity, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, morality chain, billionaire, and second chance.
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Shattered Vows is the second book in the Midnight Manor series. It can be read as a standalone but you will want to read the first one after reading this, if you haven’t yet.
I love this fairy-tale retelling of Rapunzel. These two authors truly know how to take reimagine a fairytale in today’s modern world and make it very intruiging.
Shattered Vows is Kol and Rapsody’s story. They met many years ago but had an abrupt ending far too quickly. Now that Kol has found her once again, he doesn’t want to give her up as quickly.
I really enjoyed how this story unfolded and all the ins and outs that took place. It’s not as cut and dry as one thinks with a fairytale retelling; there are quite a few surprising twists that keep this entire story enthralling.
I am absolutely loving these stories and cannot wait for the next one!!
Meet P. Rayne
The darker side of USA Today Bestselling Author, Piper Rayne.
It’s been twelve years since I last saw Scottie Rucker. A grim prognosis has upended my life, and no amount of my hard-earned money can fix it. So, after leaving a note on the nightstand, I search for my first love—I search for life.
When I find her in Austin, working at a quaint general store and living in an RV behind it, those twelve years vanish. She’s exactly how I remember her.
Scottie thinks our reunion is a small-world coincidence, and I’m not ready to tell her the truth. After we rekindle our friendship, she convinces me to work part-time at the store while she pursues her budding relationship with Koen, a welder and the grandson of a customer.
Scottie’s ability to live in the moment is exactly what I need. But how do I convince her new boyfriend that I’m not his competition? And what happens if my heart changes its mind?
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I know that when I sit down to read a book by Jewel, it’s going to put me through a gamut of emotions. I Thought of You does exactly that.
This book was so incredibly good on so many levels. It’s so much more than a love story.
Jewel is one of those authors whose writing just captivates readers. Her characters have so much depth that come alive while you are reading. Her writing style just pulls you in and you feel so much; you have compassion and understand for her characters.
I absolutely loved these characters, together and individually. I won’t get into specifics but this story made me appreciate life in so many aspects. And that’s what I love about Jewel’s books; I always find myself appreciate something more after finishing one of her stories.
I Thought Of You is such a meaningful and sincere story that’s more than just about romance and readers will appreciate that.
Meet Jewel E. Ann
Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
Biting banter is all they know. But messy feelings have a way of coming to the surface in this beachside romance from USA Today bestselling author R.S. Grey.
Paige Young and Cole Clark are polar opposites. A world traveler since birth, Paige loves to lead activities for guests at a luxury island resort in Turks and Caicos. From bingo nights to cliffside hikes, Paige is up for anything. Cole, meanwhile, prefers his number-crunching desk job. He’s the assistant director at the resort—stiff and meticulous. He’s so by the book that he keeps the book. In his desk drawer.
They’re perfectly aligned in one way, though—their ability to drive each other crazy. Every day brings a fresh battle of wits. They’re rivals, archnemeses…and they’re definitely never going to talk about that one time they kissed. Ha ha. Nope!
But when Paige finds out that Cole has been ordered to fire her on the same day a hurricane threatens their little slice of paradise, it’s clear the game is over.
At odds, in peril, and forced to shelter in place together, these two enemies might finally have to confront their true feelings. (You know, the ones hidden under all those withering looks.)
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The plot was cute but felt slightly disjointed in areas. I enjoyed it but this didn’t flow like other previous Grey books.
The characters were enjoyable but felt very cookie-cutter and similar Grey’s previous characters.
Their Last Resort was enjoyable. And while it wasn’t one of my favorites, I know others will possibly enjoy it more.
Meet R.S. Grey
R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including seven #1 bestselling romantic comedies. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog.
They say you can always go home again, but for August Percy, that didn’t apply even when she had to live there until her eighteenth birthday.
After saying goodbye to a toxic childhood, she never planned to look in the rearview. Until the death of the woman who caused all her trauma forces her back to Hope Crest.
With a mountain of debt and an uncertain future, August at least has a soft place to land when her former employer and surrogate big brother offers her a house that isn’t chock full of nightmares from the past. What she never bargained for, though? The boy-turned-man she’s always crushed hard on from afar accidentally becoming her roommate.
Evan Ashton is the prodigal son who finally came home … even if he didn’t necessarily want to. As the new head chef of his family’s fourth-generation restaurant, he’s trying to build his own legacy in a line full of stubborn men. So when he ends up under the same roof as the closed-off woman the rest of his siblings seem to know so well, Evan attempts to shut down any curiosity since he can’t afford more complications in his life.
Except conversations over late night snacks, having her unexpectedly working in his kitchen, and inevitably bumping into her at every family celebration they’re both invited to only seems to bring him closer to August … until all of that tension bubbles over.
Then danger begins to close in, and it’s not even a thought of putting himself between her and the threat. But secrets beyond either of their control, and opportunities far from Hope Crest, begin to cause cracks.
And when both of them question whether their intense connection can last for longer than right now, it may just be their final undoing.
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I was so looking forward Evan’s book and knowing he was paired with August was icing on the cake for me.
Evan and August had completely different upbringings but both left their hometown to find themselves outside of their family.
Now they both find themselves back in their hometown. August has always crushed on Evan but he never noticed her. But now that they are older and find themselves in a unique situation, you never what happens behind closed doors.
I could not get enough of these two. I loved the tension, the slow burn chemistry and their late night talks. This was a perfect slow-burn romance with a bit of mystery and I loved every single bit of it.
Best book in the series for me!!!
Meet Carrie Aarons
Author of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.
When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.
My mother only wanted me to learn one lesson growing up…
Men are trash.
Her father left her, and then my father left us. Being raised by her and my grandmother, I was surrounded by the reminder to be independent and guard my heart.
After my one and only experience with a boy in college fell flatter than a pancake, I realized they were right — and I was content to live the life of a twenty-six-year-old cat lady.
Until Will Perry blew my quiet world to smithereens.
Starting goalie for the Tampa Bay Ospreys and the kind of hot that scrambles your brain, all I was ever supposed to be to him was his daughter’s kindergarten teacher. Then, in a twist of events, his temporary nanny.
But temporary turns to permanent, and when I move into his pool house, everything changes.
He’s impossibly grumpy and focused on only two things: hockey, and taking care of his daughter. I’m only focused on using this new income to pay back my student loans.
But in that house, I feel his heated gaze beneath that permanent scowl, the way it lingers and warms my skin. And though I know my mother would lose her mind if she knew, my dreams have become midnight fantasies about my long-haired, muscle-lined mystery of a boss.
When the tension becomes too much, we break, and we make a deal.
He still needs a nanny. I still need a paycheck and for my matriarchy to not disown me. But Will agrees to teach me everything I’ve always wanted to learn, and I’m all too eager to be his student.
I can do this. I’m a grown woman. I can explore my sexuality with the hottest goalie on earth and still remain one-hundred percent professional. And I can definitely do it all without catching feelings.
I have to.
Otherwise, I’ll end up heartbroken in my mother’s arms while she shakes her head and asks me if I’ll ever learn my lesson.
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Learn Your Lesson was everything I expected, and more!!
Will Perry (Daddy P) and Chloe’s story is an emotional one in so many ways. This was the best combination of sweet and sugary with some yummy spice to keep things flowing perfectly.
Kandi wrote a great story that her characters carried very well. The pacing was perfect and each moment flowed wonderfully into the next.
I devoured this book and could not wait to see how things transpire between them. I loved seeing the growth in both Will and Chloe as things progressed. They challenged one another in ways they did not expect and that just added to their chemistry.
LYL is another perfection addition to this series and one that readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Meet Kandi
Kandi Steiner is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future: www.kandisteiner.com/events
That was my husband Jesse’s dying promise, a vow I’m certain he’ll keep. This wasn’t the first lifetime Jesse and I shared, and since love never dies, we knew, someday, we would be reunited.
After he passed away, I thought I’d never experience a love like that again—not in this lifetime anyway—and I accepted that.
But fate had other plans for me…
I met Dev Abramson when his white German shepherd plowed into me in Central Park, knocking me flat on my back, then slathering my face with her effervescent kisses. I was instantly drawn to Dev’s calm, centered presence and to his dog, Sheba, who welcomed me like a long-lost friend.
Dev gave me his card, but I failed to follow up, something I deeply regretted. So, when our paths crossed a second time, I wasn’t about to let him slip away again. I needed to know more about the handsome jazz pianist.
I never expected to fall in love with Dev, but now that I have—I’m afraid if I tell him that I was married to Jesse, one of the most famous rock stars in the world, and that we have shared previous lifetimes—I’ll lose him.
But my connection with Dev was instantaneous and so deep—as if I’d known him forever.
And I can’t help but wonder, maybe I have…
THIS BOOK IS THE SEQUEL TO LOVE ON THE EDGE OF TIME WHICH MUST BE READ FIRST.
Julie has done it once again – blown me away with her astounding & talented writing.
First and foremost, you must read this book AFTER you read Love on the Edge of Time. This is the conclusion to that book and cannot be read as a standalone.
Now, where do I begin with this one. It’s been 6.5 years since Julie released the first book but it resounded with me so well, that after reading the blurb, it all came back to me as if I just read it. And no doubt, Love on the Edge of Forever is the same way.
This book touched my soul so deeply. I won’t go into details of this book – the blurb gives you all you need to know. But this book truly shows what a true soulmate is.
Julie delivers a profound story that will is very thought-provoking and will bring you to your knees. The emotions I felt while reading were jaw-dropping intense and I could not walk away from this story.
Love on the Edge of Forever is more than a romance – it’s the story of many lifetimes. It’s a story that will forever stay with me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.
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
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.
