Lily Archer came to Italy to save her marriage. She never expected to lose herself instead.
When she looks up from her lonely glass of wine, she meets eyes that see too much. Eyes that tempt her with everything it seems her husband has long since forgotten.
One drink. One nod. That’s all it took to unravel everything.
Now she’s captive to a stranger who whispers promises in the dark. Promises she should fear, yet her body betrays her by craving every sinful touch. But what terrifies her the most aren’t the restraints, it’s how her terror turns into temptation until she can no longer tell where one ends and the other begins.
Lily must decide if this night will destroy her or awaken something she can never bury again.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Mistletoe Meet Cute by Bella Matthews is now live!
From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a single dad/nanny, grumpy grinch/sunshine, holiday romance.
Falling for my brother’s teammate wasn’t on my Christmas list. Neither was working for him, but here I am—nannying for Camden Monroe, Philly’s star quarterback, single dad, and the grumpiest grinch to ever fill out a pair of gray sweats.
He should be the last man I want under my mistletoe.
He’s too old. Too cocky. And too damn tempting. But one snowy night, one reckless touch, and one unforgettable kiss have me rethinking everything I thought I wanted.
Suddenly, the holidays aren’t about twinkle lights and tinsel. They’re about stolen moments, secret touches, and the kind of Christmas chaos that feels way too good to resist.
Maybe the best gifts don’t come wrapped in pretty bows… Maybe they come with dirty grins, filthy mouths, and the power to make me forget every single reason why Camden doesn’t belong at the top of my wish list. . .
‘Tis the season.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
This story really gets you in the mood for the holidays, Hallmark movies and Christmas.
I love the play on the grinchy attitude with Camden and Holly’s love of Christmas.
Bella creates the perfect story for these two and I love how things unfold between them. If you have read previous books from Bella, we met Camden in Teasing and the introduction of Holly’s family was very nicely done (I hope we see more of them in future books). But don’t fret if you have not read any books before – this one will just have you wanting to go back and read her previous books.
A perfect Christmas read and if you love Hallmark movies, this book is perfect for you.
Genre/Tropes: Steamy / Enemies to Lovers / Used to be best friends / She dated his best friend / Valentine’s Day Romance from Montlake / Small Town / Quirky friends / Long Novella
THE KISS LOTTERY by Ilsa Madden-Mills is NOW LIVE!
Make sure to grab this all-new steamy, small town, Valentine’s Day romance TODAY!
From bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a steamy novella about first love and second chances where a city girl returns home for a Valentine’s Day tradition…and the boy who broke her heart.
Roses are red, violets are blue—someone in Rose has feelings for you…
Yeah, bad ones. Everly Davis didn’t leave her tight-knit hometown on the best terms. It’s been ten years, but you don’t forget heartbreak like that. Then again, the anonymous invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, gives Everly content for her podcast. And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.
Beckett Whitfield has never left Rose—and he’s never forgotten Everly. He even named the villain in his latest bestseller after her. Turns out she’s not happy about that. Nothing about their reunion is particularly happy, and after the way they left things, what did he expect?
When the Kiss Lottery pairs them together, Everly and Beckett will have to confront old feelings that never went away and the secrets they never shared. But finally telling each other everything might be exactly what they’ve needed all along.
This was the cutest novella and perfect for right around Valentines Day.
The Kiss Lottery is very fast-paced and has the second-chance, small-town romance vibes going on.
The blurb tells you all you need to know. The chemistry between Beckett and Everly is very obvious from the get-go but they have a past and he apparently held tight onto his hatred. That is all you are getting from me in any regards to the story or plot.
The banter was on-point and the mannerisms of these two was perfection. The whole premise of this book was great but watching it all unfold as the story progressed was adorable.
This is a great romance novella for anyone.
About the Author:
Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.
Fourteen of her Eighteen novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Not My Romeo #1; The Revenge Pact #1; Dear Ava, Fake Fiancée, I Dare You, and I Promise You #2; I Hate You #5; Not My Match, I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females.
Graveyard Dog, a Charley Davidson novella from New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones & 1001 Dark Nights is now live!
Michael Cavalcante has one thing on his mind when he knocks on Izzabel Walsh’s door at two in the morning, half-dressed and a bit toasted: fix the woman’s heater and get back to bed. He vows never to cover for his maintenance tech again, especially after he gets tased and knocked out with a frying pan for his efforts.
Izzy thought she was safe. She’d dyed her hair, changed her name, and moved 1,500 miles away, and still they found her. When a member of her ex’s motorcycle club knocks on her door in the middle of the night, supposedly to fix a perfectly good heater, Izzy panics. Not only have they found her, but they would soon discover she has a daughter. Aka, a weakness. Aka, leverage. She needs time to think. To plan. To figure out how to keep the sexy neanderthal quiet. But she has no idea how to, short of murder. Can she win him over to her side? Or will he be just like all the others once he finds out what she is capable of?
Michael has one chance to convince Izzy he doesn’t want to harm her or her daughter, but more than that, he wants to know who does. And why. And where he can find them. After all, how else is he going to make sure the two sprites, who have wound their way into his heart, are safe?
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/48NkaF9 Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/graveyarddog Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3WloPbT
Add Graveyard Dog to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3WBllmO
Keep reading for a look inside Graveyard Dog!
She had hair the same color as the girl’s, hanging in soft waves around her face and past her shoulders. A similar bow-shaped mouth and eyes the same ashen brown confirmed their relationship. “She’s not my daughter,” she said, frantically clutching the girl to her. Or not. “Mama,” the girl pouted, placing the accent on the second ma, her lower lip jutting out. “She’s the neighbor’s kid. They’re British. I just watch her from time to time.” The girl tried to shake out of her grip. While she failed, she did manage to turn in the woman’s arms and look up at her. “Why do you always say that?” she asked in her soft British accent—one the woman didn’t have. The laugh that escaped the older woman was so exaggerated and forced that Michael was appalled such talent had somehow eluded Hollywood scouts. She pulled the girl to her and petted her hair until he worried the child might go bald. “She’s a bit dramatic.” The girl pushed at the brunette’s hands. “Mama, stop.” “Look,” Michael said, growing impatient. And numb. “Like I said when you answered the door this morning, I got a call about your heater.” “There’s nothing wrong with my heater.” “Then why did you call?” he asked through gritted teeth. “I didn’t. But you know that already.” “I do?” He did? He was lost. Had he come to the wrong apartment? Damn it. How much had he drunk? He tried to count on his fingers but could no longer feel them. The woman pushed the girl behind her as she walked closer to him. So close he could have easily taken her out with a single sweep of his leg and a triangle chokehold. And it wasn’t like an oven—dishwasher?—door handle could hold him if he didn’t want it to. Maybe for a few seconds. But he’d once fought a bear. Long story. He was fairly certain he could take an appliance door under the right circumstances. Clearly not a criminal mastermind, the woman leaned close to him, the scent of peach shampoo washing over him, and said the oddest thing he’d heard all day. And he’d heard a lot of strange things already. “Be still.” He could barely move as it was. How much stiller could he get? “You will forget the girl in sixty seconds.” “Mama!” the girl shouted in protest, tugging at the woman’s robe—a micro-thin garment that did little to conceal the curves underneath. How the fuck was he just now seeing them? The curves. It was the frying pan; it had to be. Because as she leaned even closer, her beautiful face came into focus, and he felt a rippling punch to his gut. Unhinged and beautiful. Just his type.
For more information about Darynda Jones, visit: https://darynda.com/
For more information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
The Ghost of a Chance, a Krewe of Hunters novella from New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham & 1001 Dark Nights is now live!
Having run into the bank to take out cash for her son’s school fair, Angela Hawkins Crow is surprised to find herself in the middle of a hostage situation. The hostage-taker is none other than Billy Mendelson, a young man suffering after a violent armed robbery attack at his home.
Angela read about the crime but is mystified by his behavior, even as he hustles her into a vault with several others. Billy was a stellar student and so much more before the events of that fateful day. How can he subject others to such violence?
Thankfully, Angela realizes someone else in the bank might be able to help her bring it all to an end—without any injuries. It’s a ghost of a chance, but one she must cling to if she wishes to save the hostages and the young man so damaged by what has befallen him.
Only a ghost of a chance…
But one she is grateful to have. And one that just might work.
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/40GoodR Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/theghostofachance Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/47bGmIH
Add The Ghost of a Chance to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3TjOcKC
Keep reading for a look inside The Ghost of a Chance!
One thing her years with the bureau had given her were classes in self-defense, negotiations, and profiling… Classes that taught her when self-defense was an option, the best way to speak during negotiations, and how to deal with someone who was so badly on the edge that every single care had to be taken to keep oneself or a roomful of people from being killed. Of course, she could only pray that she was putting the pieces together properly. “Please,” she repeated. “We will all do every single thing you tell us to do.” He whispered something, but she barely heard him. “I’m sorry.” He moved closer to her as if his words were meant only for her. “My mother did that—everything those bastards said. And they killed her and my dad anyway.” “But that’s them, Billy. Not you,” she told him. Her words were almost a whisper now. This had come to something that was between the two of them. “You know who I am.” “And my heart bleeds for you. Billy, I know you probably won’t believe this, but I can help you. I can employ every resource in the world to trap the monsters who hurt your parents,” she told him. “Really—” “The cops were all over it.” “Not to brag, but I’m almost a genius with the Internet. I can find out what others can’t. And I have friends who are just as good.” “No, no, no. I’ll be gone to the moon—well, South America, at least. Somewhere far, far, away. And I’ll start over completely. Or I’ll be dead,” he told her. “Then we’ll get everyone into the vault now, and when you’re gone, I’ll still try to find justice for your parents,” she vowed. He looked at her for a long moment, and she thought maybe he believed her. Right now, there was only one objective: to keep these people alive. And she would do anything in the world to make that happen, praying that, somehow, she might keep herself alive, as well. There might be one problem, though. Jackson and Corby knew where she was. She had simply run to the bank to pull out some cash for Corby’s class’s fundraiser for the victims of the latest storm that had wiped out hundreds of homes. They’d planned on buying pastries created by all the kids’ different parents and turning their purchases into an impromptu party for those in the Krewe who were in the area at the moment. Billy smiled suddenly. “You’d best all behave,” he told her. “Because I’m not alone. Say hi, Kenneth.” At the front of the bank, one of the men seated on the floor waved a hand in the air and rose, reaching beneath his jacket as he did. He, too, had a gun. From her distance, Angela couldn’t tell what type of handgun it might be. But regardless, it carried bullets and death. Her family knew she was here. And while she had incredible faith in Jackson, she prayed he was able to control the situation, and that no one barged in, guns blazing. Because that would surely cause a bloodbath.
For more information about Heather Graham, visit: https://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com/
For more information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Title:First Time Authors: Heidi McLaughlin & L.P.Dover Genre: Contemporary Romance / Short story / New Adult Release Date: August 27, 2024 Hosted by:Buoni Amici Press, LLC.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Heidi McLaughlin and L.P. Dover team up again for a sexy new Society X series that will have you begging for more!
The rules of Society X are simple … break them and you’re out.
The exclusive club has it all:
Staying anonymous in the Dark Room.
Watching your every desire in the Viewing Room.
Exploring scandalous fun in the Play Room.
For Brent Danson, the club doesn’t interest him—at least, not until he meets the beauty behind the bar, who happens to be an old flame from his past… Scotlyn Hill.
Scotlyn brings out a side in him he hasn’t explored yet. She’s beautiful, experienced, and not the virgin he is. But that soon changes when they both give in to the temptations Society X has to offer, especially the Dark Room.
However, when the time comes for all to be revealed, will Brent and Scotlyn be able to make things work? One way or another, neither one will be the same.
“Did you get your eyeful again?” I joke as I close the distance between us.
Brent’s cheeks turn red and he adjusts his glasses. He reminds me of the Clark Kent version of Superman. When he has his glasses on, he’s a nerdy computer guy. But when they come off . . . he looks completely different. Very sexy.
Brent chuckles. “I did. There was a lot of bare skin in there.”
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs. In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital. To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
♦♦♦
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.
Will they be able to resist each other? Or does fate have other plans?
The Substitute, a Single in Seattle novella from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby & 1001 Dark Nights is now live!
Derek Langley can’t keep an assistant to save his life. He’s grumpy, demanding, and sometimes mean, which mirrors his reputation in court. Derek doesn’t have time to coddle an employee, so when the temp agency informs him their next placement will be the last, he knows he’s doomed.
Maya Sterling is excited to move to Seattle. She wants to be closer to her siblings and her new friends, and a position with a temp agency fits the bill for her new life in the city. She doesn’t plan on walking in and finding a sexy British grouch for a boss, but his gruff nature doesn’t really bother her. In fact, she’s attracted to his rough-around-the-edges nature.
They quickly realize the attraction is mutual and steam up the office. But Maya’s position with Derek is temporary, and she knows she must maintain a professional distance to preserve her sanity.
Will they be able to resist each other? Or does fate have other plans?
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P577pn Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/thesubstitute Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3VqNsod
Add The Substitute to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3VqRdKr
Keep reading for a look inside The Substitute!
“So, why does Gray think your boss is a jerk?” Liv asks me as we walk into the department store. “I don’t think he’s a jerk, but I’ve only known him for a week.” Sidney scowls at me. “Why would Gray think that, then?” “I guess Derek has a reputation for being hard to work for.” I shrug and hold up a navy-blue dress, but Stella takes it out of my hands and puts it back on the rack. “That’s for someone in their sixties,” she informs me, shaking her head. “Thanks. Anyway, I admit Derek can be abrupt and short, but he doesn’t bother me. At least not so far.” I glance over at Liv, who’s watching me. “What?” “I’m telling you, you like him,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “Look—” “He doesn’t just not bother you. You’re hot for him.” “Is he attractive?” Sidney asks, reaching for her phone. “Hell, I’ll google him. What’s his name?” “Derek Langley,” I reply and bite my lip. This is fun. And a little nerve-racking. “He’s British. So, he does have a sexy accent.” “Oh,” Sid says, turning the phone so the others can see. “Yeah, he’s fucking attractive.” “Hot,” Stella agrees. “Dang, Maya, you should go for it. Wait, is he married?” “He doesn’t wear a ring.” I consider that, tapping my finger on my chin. “Of course, not everyone does. I don’t think he’s married.” “I can’t find any evidence of a wife,” Sidney says, tapping on her phone some more. “Unless it’s recent.” “He’s my boss,” I reply, shaking my head. “Sure, there’s some chemistry there, but I work for him. I don’t think that’s ethical.” I’ve caught him looking at my lips several times, and when we stand close together, he shoves his hands in his pockets as if he’s restraining himself to keep from touching me. But maybe that’s all just in my head. “You said yourself it’s only a thirty-day assignment,” Liv says, waving me off. “I say take those thirty days and have fun with them.” “We’re going straight to the lingerie department,” Stella decides. “You guys.” I laugh but don’t stop them from pulling me to the intimates section, where they choose lots of lacy, silky, beautiful things for me to try. “What if I’m being silly, and he wants no part in anything sexy with me?” “Number one, he’d be stupid,” Sid says. “And number two, if he’s not interested, someone else will be.” “You have a point. Okay, let’s do this.”
For more information about Kristen Proby, visit: https://www.kristenprobyauthor.com/
For more information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
A dangerous ringmaster claims his rebellious acrobat for a sensual show you cannot miss.
Blue Moon, a Smoke and Mirrors novella from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren is now live!
Charismatic. Devious. Secretive. Emerson Durand is the ringmaster for the illustrious Cirque des Miroirs. In each city he finds a new woman to command for the night. Until he finds the one woman who doesn’t bow to his demands.
Luna Rider soars through the air as an aerial acrobat. She’s determined to provide for herself and her sister, but she doesn’t count on being gambled away. Or the secrets that hover under the striped tent.
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sbD5sn Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/bluemoonSW Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Fv3ogq
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/45EST4R
Keep reading for a look inside Blue Moon!
Instead, the person who opens it is none other than the stranger from earlier. He is surprisingly not black and blue, not beaten to bits. In fact, he looks healthy and haughty. His dark eyes twinkle like he has a secret with me. “Luna,” he says as if we’re old friends, which is not a good thing. It’s just another reason for my father to hate me later. Because whatever happens between this man and I, whether it’s sexual or not, dangerous or not, there’s no way I’m leaving Blue Moon Circus. “Come on in.” I step cautiously into the room. I’ve stepped foot into this trailer thousands of times, maybe millions of times, I don’t even know. This was my family home, my childhood home, if the word home could be applied to such a place of terror. But the scene is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Instead of my father’s poker game or a few of the female performers passed out on his lumpy couch for him to use whenever he wants, there are two men I don’t recognize with guns. Pointing them at my father and a couple of his buddies who usually play poker with him. Chips are scattered all around the room. The card table is upended. Something bad happened here though you couldn’t tell by looking at Emerson, he smiles. “We had a slight disagreement at the end of our card game. However, the results stand. I won, which means that you come with me.”
For More Information about Skye Warren, visit her website: https://www.skyewarren.com/
For More Information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
In a game of second chances, will their messy past be a winning wild card or their downfall?
The Wild Card, a Rivers Wilde novella from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Dylan Allen is now live!
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Dylan Allen continues the Rivers Wilde series with a neighbors-to-lovers second-chance romance.
A billionaire with family secrets looking for a fresh start. A reformed jewel thief. And a choice that changes everything.
Leo has two priorities: putting down new roots and making up for his mistakes.
He doesn’t have time for a blind date with his new neighbor.
Until he finds out she’s the woman he let slip away…but never forgot.
Cassie has finally paid her debts and is living the life she’s always wanted. Her new neighbor sounds like he could be Mr. Right. Only, he turns out to be the man who promised her the world then disappeared without a trace.
In another time and another place, he was a playboy who made her believe in miracles. Now, he’s a danger to everything she’s worked hard for.
He wants to pick up where they left off. She wants to keep her distance.
But when they’re together, their chemistry is undeniable. The heat between them burns hot and fast. Until a secret whips up a fire that threatens to engulf them all.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YkDHrv Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/thewildcardDA Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3rC09R8
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3OODIRx
Keep reading for a look inside The Wild Card!
I drop my phone into my pocket and grab my suitcase’s handle to turn around.
“Hey, watch—” I hear him too late and crash into the man trying to warn me with a thud that knocks the wind out of me and pushes me back onto my heels. I windmill my arms to try and correct my balance but cry out as it proves in vain and my body teeters backward. I brace myself for a fall.
Instead, an arm wraps around my waist and I find myself staring into the mirrored lenses of a dark pair of Ray-Bans.
Even with his eyes hidden and his face covered in sweat he’s easily one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen in person. He’s got a mouth most women would envy and a nose that belongs in a museum. His pores are amazing. I need to find out what he uses on his skin.
“Are you alright?” he asks, still hovering over me, still holding me up as if I weighed nothing.
“Yes.” I cough to clear the husk from my voice. “I’m sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“I was,” he murmurs.
“You were…watching where I was going?”
“No. Where I was going. So, I saw you. Caught you.” The heat from his hand seeps through the thin fabric of my sundress.
I can’t see his eyes but I swear I can feel them on my face and I don’t like that I can’t see him.
And that’s my cue to end this little…whatever it is.
“Can you let me up?” I press my hands to his chest.
“Oh.” He starts as if he didn’t realize he was holding me. “Yes, sorry.” He straightens and lets me go. But the heat from his touch doesn’t.
“Thanks for breaking my fall. I’m Cassie.” I give a lame wave.
He flashes an unfairly perfect grin. “Nice to meet you. How long are you here?”
“All week. I’m working at the resort. You?” I ask as he starts to jog in place and glances at his watch.
“Two weeks. At least. So…maybe I’ll see you around?”
“Sure. What’s your name?”
“They call me Wild Card.” He winks and runs off.
Oh shit. I’ve already fucked up. Well at least I know who to avoid.
“I glance over my shoulder and watch him run away, his back muscles a thing of art and perfection, and sigh. “What a waste.”
For More Information about Dylan Allen, visit her website: https://www.dylanallenbooks.com/
For More Information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
She’s a beach town flower shop owner who loves Christmas. He’s the hot new restaurant owner with a grumpy Grinch heart.
Christmas in Cape May, an all-new steamy Sunshine Sisters novella from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, is available now!
Devon Pratt loves many things in life. The beauty of flowers. The yin and yang of energy. The power of positivity in people. And everything to do with the Christmas season.
As a floral shop owner in the beach town of Cape May, she looks forward to decorating both the town and running the annual holiday party to benefit the local animal shelter. Too bad the new owner of her favorite venue is more like the Grinch than Santa. Working with him will be a challenge, but she’s too full of seasonal cheer to let him annoy her, right?
Jameson Franklin hates many things in life. Crowds. Fake cheer. Ostentatious décor. And especially Christmas. The season is full of things he’d rather avoid, but since taking over the popular restaurant Vintage temporarily for his cousin as a favor, he’s trying to play nice with the locals. Too bad the florist is insisting on overrunning his sacred space with blooms, dogs, and an endless positive persistence that pushes all of his buttons. But when too many heated confrontations lead to heated encounters, he begins to wonder what it would be like to love not only Christmas, but Devon Pratt.
Let the festivities begin.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Keep reading for a look inside Christmas in Cape May!
She took a few steps in and jabbed her finger in the air. “You wouldn’t know how to handle a day at my shop, restaurant boy. And cancelling on a charity two weeks before the event is bad business in whatever way you want to look at it. I refuse to let you ruin this town’s tradition because you want to line your pocket with a few extra bucks. I don’t care what I have to do. You will honor the agreement and hold the gala here or I will make you sorely regret it.” The words shot and floated through the room like post-gunfire. A slight trembling shook her body from the depth of her emotions, and she dully noted it had been a long time since any individual—male or female—brought out her full ire. Devon braced herself for the fight of the century. “Restaurant boy?” The droll amusement only notched her temper higher. “I mean it. I will help you do this but you have a responsibility to keep your damn word.” The man had the audacity to lean back in his chair with ease and regard her under lashes that were too thick for a male. “And if I don’t?” Devon realized she’d make a bigger impression if she was like him. Cold-hearted, methodical, and ruthless. “I know people.” Interest piqued in those storm cloud eyes. “Mob?” “No. Legal people. Wouldn’t it be a shame to try and make productive changes and have to deal with customer complaints regarding the food? Or sanitary conditions?” She clucked her tongue. “Mac just got his liquor license. I bet you’d make a pretty penny selling your fancy Manhattan cocktails here. Wouldn’t it be a shame if something happened to that liquor license?” “You really like dogs, don’t you?” She narrowed her gaze and tried to figure him out. He was so damn…perplexing. Devon expected anger, or some other type of boorish behavior. Instead, he acted like he was royalty who refused to show weakness or emotion. Unfortunately, it only made her want to stir him up a bit to see where his limits were. “Dogs are the bomb. They deserve a little happiness before being returned to their cages without a family for Christmas.” And then something amazing happened. He laughed. Sure, it was a chuckle, and not a full-blown chest laugh, but the sound ruffled her nerve endings and made her want to remember it so she could replay the scene later in her head. “Okay, flower girl. I’ll give you what you want because I have limited time to deal with your threats but I have no time to structure this event. I’ll serve local beer and wine. I’ll offer up a limited menu based on my choices. That’s it. You do everything else and there will be no interference with the lunch crowd. The event begins at six pm, and I serve till 4pm. That means, no early drop-offs or distractions for my staff.” She opened her mouth to say something but he kept going. “And if I need anything, I plan to call you and only you. The moment you don’t respond, I’m calling the whole thing off, and you can blame the dogs’ broken hearts on your inability to follow through. Understood?” “Flower girl?” He grinned and her stomach did another weird flip. Something about those lips distracted her. “Tit for tat. Now, I need to get back to work.” This time, he turned around and began tapping at his keyboard. She’d already been dismissed. Head spinning, unable to come up with a proper retaliation, Devon left, wondering if she’d won the battle only to have lost the war. Because dealing with that man for the next two weeks was going to be hell on Earth.
For More Information about Jennifer Probst, visit her website: https://jenniferprobst.com/
For More Information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
“She was captivating. Breathtaking. Stunning. Surprising. Tempting. And Katy’s teacher.”
The Dandelion Diary, an all-new heartwarming Maysen Jar novella from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Devney Perry is available now!
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Devney Perry comes a new story in her Maysen Jar series…
Dear Diary,
My dad needs a girlfriend, and I’ve already picked her out.
Miss Adler would be perfect for him, right? She’s super pretty. She has the best smile and she gives the best hugs. And she’s, like, the most amazing teacher in the world.
Dad is my hero, but I can tell he’s lonely. He tries to hide it from me, but sometimes at night, when he thinks I’m asleep, I’ll sneak downstairs and find him sitting on the couch, staring at nothing. He’s never had a girlfriend, not since the divorce. Mom messed him up. She’s good at that.
He’s smart and funny, but he doesn’t laugh enough. I’ve seen other moms at school check him out so I guess he’s handsome. (Eww.) And he makes up the best nicknames. He calls me Dandelion. I bet he’d give Miss Adler an awesome nickname too.
They’re perfect for each other. I just know it. Now I only have to show them I’m right.
Wish me luck.
Katy
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Fall in love today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ey8Q8r Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/thedandeliondiary Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3ZBEB25
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3KwfyJg
Keep reading for a look inside The Dandelion Diary
Jeff stopped just beyond the patio, turning to face me. I stopped too, standing just within arm’s reach. He reached up, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m stalling.” “You’re stalling.” “You gotta tell me what you want. It’s your job. It’s your life. You want to wait until summer, then I’ll walk you to your car right now.” I inched closer. More of that bravery bubbled to the surface. Was this a stupid idea? Yep. So why couldn’t I leave? “What if I don’t want to go to my car?” A growl came from his chest as he dragged a hand over his jaw. “You’re sure?” “Is Katy asleep?” He nodded once. “Out like a light.” “Then I want you to kiss me.” The words were barely out of my mouth before his lips crushed mine, his strong arms sweeping me off my feet as he hauled me into his chest. Yes. Whatever doubts I had vanished. I melted against him, sinking into the feel of those lips against mine. Never in my life had I been this bold. Never in my life had I told a man to kiss me. Worth it. So fucking worth it. His tongue swept against the seam of my lips, demanding entry. A mewl escaped my throat as he slid inside. Then he plundered, fluttering and tangling and swirling his tongue with mine until I was breathless. This man could kiss. Thank the stars in the sky, he could kiss. He nipped at the corner of my mouth, then sucked my bottom lip between his teeth. He slanted over me, delving deeper, leaving no corner of my mouth untouched. My entire body went up in flames, my pulse thudding in time with the aching throb in my core. When he broke us apart, my lips were swollen. He latched on to my neck, sucking and kissing as he left a trail down the column of my throat. “More.” I fisted the material of his shirt, holding him to me. “Fuck, Della.” His voice held an edge of restraint, like he was trying to press the brakes. He pulled back, setting me on my feet. His eyes searched mine and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then he shifted, taking a step away. No. “Don’t,” I panted. Maybe it was the years of rejection from Luka. Maybe it was this all-consuming need for Jeff’s touch, his skin against mine. If I had to beg, I’d beg. Tonight, I wanted to be craved. Worshiped. And if that kiss was any indication, together, we could be dynamite. “Della—” “Please don’t pull away from me.” There was a vulnerability in my voice that surprised even me. Jeff’s eyes softened. “I don’t want to, beautiful. But if I don’t put this space between us, I’m not sure I’ll be able to let you go.” The air rushed from my lungs. He wants me. Deep down, I knew he wanted me. That kiss was a kiss from a man who wanted a woman. But to hear the need in his voice, well…it meant I didn’t care about the rules. Not tonight. I’d risk it all, just once. “You said I had to tell you what I want,” I said. “And that’s you. Kiss me again. Take me inside to your bedroom. Or if all you want to do is sit at the table and play cribbage with me, I’ll take whatever I can get. We don’t even know each other but the idea of me leaving right now…” I shook my head. “I don’t want to leave.”
This is how you write a novella!!!
The Dandelion Diary is a novella in Devney’s Maysen Jar series and part of the 1,001 Dark Nights 2023 collection.
If you’re a dummy like me and haven’t read any of the books in this series, this is the perfect book to get a peak into this perfect small town. And it’s also a perfect way to get a glimpse into Devney’s phenomenal writing.
I cannot rave enough about this novella. It’s set in this quaint small-town and has adorable little stores. The Dandelion Diary features a divorced, single dad and he’s incredibly sweet daughter and his daughter’s teacher. Yep – a forbidden romance.
Jeff helps manage a local landscaping business and his main focus has always been his daughter, Katy, whom he also calls Dandelion. I absolutely love the father-daughter relationship between these two.
Della Adler is Katy’s school teacher. She and Jeff have a meeting one day at Katy’s school after Katy has a bad day and there’s this immediate connection between one another. And from there – things take off.
There’s reason this is called The Dandelion Diary – and you must read this one to find out why. The ending had me smiling the biggest smile.
Definitely a must read!!!
For More Information about Devney Perry, visit her website: https://devneyperry.com/
For More Information about 1001 Dark Nights, visit: Website: https://www.1001darknights.com/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3G98oYh
