What happens when the youngest, most successful coach in the NHL comes face-to-face with the woman he never got over — only to find out she’s married to his new General Manager?
Everything I’ve spent my life building is suddenly at risk.
I loved Ariana Ridley long before the world knew my name. Before the NHL. Before the pressure of being one of the youngest coaches in the league. Before I learned how to survive by locking my heart down tight.
Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done — and the one choice I never made peace with.
Now she’s back. And she belongs to another man.
My new General Manager.
I tell myself I can handle it. Discipline is my job. Control is my strength. I know how to keep my distance — how to respect the lines that should never be crossed.
But every glance drags the past to the surface. Every quiet moment reminds me the love I buried never died.
I see the cracks she tries to hide, the fear she’s learned to live with, and the way she still looks at me like I’m the one place she can breathe.
I want to protect her. I want to fight for her. And I want things I have no right to want.
Because if I cross that line, I don’t just risk my career — I risk shattering the woman I never stopped loving.
Some choices haunt us forever. Some loves never let go.
And trying to right my wrongs might just ruin us both.
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🏒Review🏒 The biggest regret of Shane’s life was ending his relationship with Ariana. When an injury ends his career he transitions into coaching however when he meets the team’s General Manager he is surprised to see that he is married to his first and only love. Accepting the situation is not possible when he realizes that all is not as it seems when it comes to Ariana.
Ariana was devastated when Shane walked out of her life and had no choice but to find a path forward. To anyone who didn’t know better she appears to be living the perfect life however the one man who has always known her better than everyone else sees things that could not only uproot her life but jeopardize his career as well.
Everything that Ariana has been through from before she met to Shane to what happened while they were apart will definitely make you feel. Shane has always loved Ariana and is willing to do whatever is required to make her happy and ensure that she will never feel alone again.
The Unseelie queen is dead—murdered before Sabine’s eyes. And the princess is the one being hunted for the crime.
Sabin’theoria, heir to the Unseelie throne, never expected to watch her mother die beneath the shadowed boughs of the Silver Forest. But truth and illusion twist together, and whispers of regicide spread faster than fire.
Pursued by the Wild Hunt and betrayed by her own people, Sabine has only one choice: run. Every step beyond Faerie’s borders carries her closer to exile, but also deeper into a deadly game of vengeance and lies.
He’s a cold, ruthless billionaire. Royalty by blood. Heir to danger itself. And now he wants me as his bride.
I rescue stray animals. He destroys empires before breakfast. We have nothing in common… except the sparks I can’t ignore.
He’s infuriating, arrogant, and somehow gentle when no one’s watching. But I know better than to fall for a man like him.
He’s being forced into an arranged marriage. And instead of a tiara-wearing heiress, he chooses me.
If I say yes, I give up my simple life. If I say no, he loses everything: his crown, his control, his future.
Either way, I’m not walking away untouched. Because behind his icy mask is a man who burns only for me. And I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to walk away… or foolish enough to stay.
Glamour. Intrigue. Desire hot enough to burn down a palace.
These possessive princes and kings won’t settle for just any woman. They want their queen. The one true love who can bring these powerful royals to their knees.
New standalone stories by your favorite best-selling steamy romance authors, Hope Ford, Olivia T. Turner, and Michele Mills.
Even though Cole is running late for a meeting with his father when he sees Luna being confronted by her landlord he doesn’t hesitate to step in. Not only does he save her from being evicted but buys the building so she can stay as well. When his father counsels him that he must get married for the good of the family he knows that the only one he will consider is Luna.
Luna was raised in foster care and struggles financially as she tries to manage the animal shelter she has started by working at a local diner. When Cole asks her to marry him she doesn’t immediately agree as what she really wants is love and a family of her own and isn’t sure that Cole will be willing to give her that.
Great chemistry, a swoony romance and a little suspense as Cole and Luna must decide if the rewards of being together are worth the risk.
In the shattered city of Newfris, magic isn’t a gift—it’s a curse. In the year 2311, survival means joining a Crew, and no one fights harder than Phoenix, leader of Shock Crew. With her partner Beam by her side, Phoenix defends her territory, fending off rival Crews and navigating a city torn apart by war and magic.
But when Waller Crew mounts a vengeful attack, Phoenix is forced to unleash a deadly power that nearly consumes her. As dark forces rise, she discovers an even greater threat: the ancient Eldrim, masters of a magic far more dangerous than any human can control.
As a catastrophic war looms, Phoenix must confront her deepest fear—the addiction to her own magic. But to save the world, she may have to sacrifice everything, including herself.
Alone.That’s the way FBI Agent, Santino Alvarez, prefers to live his life.
To serve, and protect. The oath Santino took the day he was sworn in and one that he fully intends to keep. Playing pretend and blending in.
Nothing is as it seems.
Especially when he collides with Silva Hunt and sparks begin to fly. Romance was never supposed to be in the cards. But Silva awakens something in Santino that he hasn’t felt before.
As things heat up between the two of them, so does the chase between Santino and The Reaper.
My Mountain Man Returns – While attending college in England Suzie spent two unforgettable weeks with Jack until he disappeared from her life and she ended up returning to the US to be there for her family. When his career in the military tore him away from Suzie he always intended to find her and now that he has she has a surprise of her own.
My Mountain Man Grump – Carrie has been getting to know Cole online however her first meeting with him does not go as expected when she finds out she has been corresponding with his matchmaking grandmother. After his wife passed away Cole has been a single father to his daughters, and he isn’t looking for love or a relationship or at least he thought he wasn’t until Carrie came into his life.
My Mountain Man Valentine – When Lucy takes her students on a field trip one of them is missing and isn’t about to give up until she finds her. Ethan leads the Search & Rescue and comes across Lucy and knows the best way to keep her safe is for them to stay together however after a little forced proximity and steamy evening he knows that one night will not be enough.
My Mountain Man Boss – Amy has had feelings for Landon, her sister’s dad, for years knowing that he will never feel the same way. After the passing of his wife Landon never expected to find love again however when he sees Amy at his daughter’s wedding he can’t deny the intense and protective feelings he has for her and is determined to show her they belong together.
It is great to have these stories in one collection.
Have you ever wondered about the monster under your bed?
LIBRA
Sleep is a curse that refuses to release me from its tight grasp. Every night, I am held hostage by sleep paralysis, unable to escape the demon that haunts my dreams. I thought it was just a figment of my imagination, a shadowy figure under my bed. But as I confront it, I realize it is much more than that. It’s real—he is real.
AXELLE
Trapped in a never-ending cycle, I am bound by chains to an endless stream of human souls. Each one a mere pawn in my eternal game of torment until their time runs out, and I am shackled to the next. But she was different. For years, I have been fixated on her, deriving twisted entertainment from her mundane existence, until one night, my dark desires took over and I crossed a line. Now, she is about to discover who, or rather what, I really am.
Sometimes all it takes is one spark, one touch, one brave leap—to turn a slow burn summer into forever…
Bronwyn
All I needed was a fresh start.
A quiet, peaceful place to open my dream bookstore. Space to just…breathe.
Carolina Cove was perfect for that.
Falling (literally) into the fire chief’s arms? Not part of my plan. Because the truth is, I don’t know if I’m even capable of love anymore.
Or if I deserve it…
Gabriel
Love, for me, has always meant heartbreak and loss. So, duty became my refuge, the firehouse my home.
Until her.
Bronwyn shined a light into all the dark corners of my life, making me want things I swore I’d never have again.
Hope.
Forever.
Her.
But I built the walls around my heart for a reason. Letting her break them down is a risk I’m just not sure I can afford to take…
Slow-Burn Summer, book 1 in the Hearts on Fire series, is a sweet, emotional, friends to lovers, small town contemporary romance/women’s fiction beach read featuring a silver fox fireman hero and a heroine who is much stronger than she realizes. Grab your copy today and get ready to fall for Bronwyn and Gabriel.
In the delightfully nosy town of Whynot, North Carolina, secrets and sweet tea never stay cold for long. When sparks fly between two locals—one returning home and one with secrets to hide—the gossip mill isn’t the only thing turning up the heat.
Penny Pritchard thought she’d traded in small-town chatter for political banter when she left to build a big career in Washington, D.C. But when her beloved Aunt Muriel needs help running Central Café—the local hotspot for gossip, grits, and good intentions—Penny comes home with a suitcase full of high heels and denial about just how much she’s missed this place.
Enter Sam-Pete Rochelle, the easygoing bartender at Chesty’s with a smile that could make a girl forget her rules and a secret bigger than the town itself. Everyone thinks he’s just the guy pouring whiskey and fixing the jukebox. No one suspects he’s actually a wildly popular, very rich, and very anonymous author of steamy fantasy romance novels.
When the truth is revealed and it’s time for Sam to stop hiding behind his pen name, Whynot loses its collective mind. The church ladies are clutching their pearls, Floyd’s hosting a “Banned Books & Bourbon” club, and the mayor’s calling an emergency meeting about moral decay. And Penny? Penny is learning firsthand that Sam doesn’t just talk the talk where his books are concerned. Sam excels at walking the walk, if you know what I mean.
Now, Penny is torn between her two worlds. Does she go back to the career that provides a sense of fulfillment and purpose or stay in the small town with the man who writes about epic love stories and might just be her own real-life happily ever after?
Small towns aren’t meant for billionaire Movie Stars, but somehow, Sutton Silvers fits right in. I know I should ignore him, the diner regular with his easy charm and quiet intensity. He belongs to another world, one of flashing cameras, billion-dollar contracts, and fake Hollywood smiles. I belong here, in the safety of routine. In the safety of Whispers.
But Sutton sees through the walls I’ve built, through the secret past I keep hidden. He should walk away, just like I should guard my heart. But there’s something about him, the way he looks at me like I’m worth the risk, that has me wanting more.
I know better than to dream of a future with a man like him. And yet, when danger starts creeping closer, he’s the one stepping in, refusing to let me face it alone. He has a choice to leave Hollywood behind or risk it all for the chance that I’m his forever.
✨TEASER: WHISKEY FLIRT by @walker_rose_books releasing March 13th!
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Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…
💋cowboy romance
🩷small town
💋friends to lovers
😍protective golden retriever
🥃baker x distiller
😉not-so-secret crush
🧁black cat with a past
🥵mutual yearning & pining
I returned to Huckleberry Springs to start over with my name on a bakery and my past sealed up tighter than a mason jar. I plan to run my business, keep my history to myself, and ignore handsome flirts like local distillery owner and rancher, Cruz Foster.
Cruz might make me forget how to frost a cookie, but I’ve been taken in by guys like him before. When he turns up the charm, I punch his efforts down like a first proof of sourdough.
He backs off but continues being sweet. My car dies, and he’s there. I need a ride, and he’s there. I want to tell him that I miss the whiskey flirt with the lopsided smile, and he’s there with a sizzling kiss.
The real Cruz is even better than the one he shows everyone else. I fall harder for the guy who loves his family, works hard, and shares his troubled childhood with me. A man who fixes himself is my weakness
But secrets like mine don’t stay buried in small towns. If I don’t want Cruz sinking to the bottom with me faster than blueberries in cake batter, I need to break my heart and go back to minding my own business.
I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to smile, to laugh, and to really live. Until I met him.
Heart-stoppingly handsome.
Totally forbidden.
Keats Matthews looked at me like I was something special.
He was escaping his past. I wanted to escape my present. Together, we fell hard and fast and knew we had found forever. Or so we thought …
Six years later, his shoulders are broader than I remembered, his charming smile thaws my frozen heart, and it’s so tempting to run my fingers through his hair like I did years ago. But it’s the tenderness and warmth in his brown eyes that remind me of the forever we almost shared.
It’s magic when we’re together again. Our chemistry has only magnified. Seeing him, confident and more irresistible than ever, has me falling for him all over again and hoping for a second chance.
But he still believes our timing was off before. He’s wrong. It was the secret I kept hidden that was our undoing. Time hasn’t healed old wounds, and not everything hidden has come to light. When it does, we’ll stand together or fall apart. Either way, we must find out.
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 