Author Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, collecting vinyl records, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
Statistics professor Amelia Hawthorne never expected to find herself in a rundown Atlantic City casino. But here she was, counting cards to help pay off her brother’s debt under the watchful eye of the mysterious Judah Greear.
The last thing Jude wanted to do was kidnap the hot brainiac, but orders were orders. Especially when they came from legendary mob boss John Valentine.
Now, Jude must choose between duty and desire. Will he protect the girl who sees past the tattoos and mugshots or save himself?
♦️Review♦️ Amelia would do anything for her brother, so when he finds himself in a difficult spot she resorts to using her math skills to count cards to pay back the money he owes. Her activities don’t go unnoticed however she refuses to heed the advice of Jude so when the situation escalates she finds herself on the run with him.
Jude works security in a casino owned by a dangerous man and when he sees what Amelia is doing he tries to protect her from herself. When that doesn’t work he finds himself protecting her while they try to find a way out of the precarious situation they find themselves in.
Amelia’s feisty personality is the perfect match for the protector in Jude. His intentions were to keep her safe and then go their separate ways however between the emotional connection, the way they understand each other and the suspenseful adventure they found themselves there is nothing temporary about their feelings for each other.
She’s a star with a secret. He’s the man who could expose it all.
As the headlining celebrity impersonator at the hottest club on the Vegas strip, Siri Wright has the world at her feet. But when a family crisis calls her back to Alabama, she’s forced to trade the glitz and glamour for small-town quiet and a dangerously irresistible new neighbor.
He’s all muscle, discipline, and unwavering focus. The kind of man who could ruin everything.
Can love bloom amid the secrets?
*Previously published as Mr. Sexy in 9G / Stalking the Stripper
Brittanee is an author who lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two children. Her town is a character in itself in all of her books.
When she is not writing she enjoys spending time outdoors by the water with her children, reading at the beach or by the pool (or really anywhere), dancing with her friends, singing Karaoke, spinning, bike riding and boating.
Some of her favorite authors are Sophia Kinsella, Elin Hilderbrand, Liane Moriarty, Mary Higgins Clark, Meghan Quinn, Daphne Elliott, Amy Alves, Claire Kingsley, Melanie Harlow, Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne and Sarah Adams. (Clearly, she has a problem and can’t pick favorites.)
From the bestselling author of the Boston Bolts Hockey Series comes a friends-to-strangers-to-lovers hockey romance featuring the next generation of Langfields.
There are only two things I’ve ever truly wanted in my life. To be a goalie in the NHL and JJ Hanson.
In a twisted way, both dreams have come true. Rather than a spot on the roster though, I’m now the first female goalie coach in the NHL. JJ Hanson’s coach, specifically.
Not only is he one of my players—making him totally off limits—he’s also a single dad and still technically married. Oh, and thanks to my father’s meddling, he’s now my roommate, along with his cousin and her three kids, my sister and her four-year-old twins, my cousin, and JJ’s daughter, who I unfortunately adore.
Yup, I’m living with six kids under the age of five, and the only man I’ve ever loved.
There was a time when JJ was my closest friend, and for one perfect moment, he was mine. Now we don’t even talk. JJ is determined to change that, though, and when opportunity strikes and suddenly both of my dreams are within reach, I have to make a decision. Can I step out onto that ice as the first female goalie in the NHL and trust JJ with my heart?
I’ve never been one to walk away from a challenge. Maybe the only way JJ and I can move forward is to go back to the start.
Paper Rings is a friends-to-lovers, single-dad, second-chance hockey romance with dual POV and a dual timeline featuring a Brownstone like Mother Faker and many of your favorite characters from the Langfield Brothers’ family. It is the first book in the New Romantics Series and a complete standalone.
🏒Review🏒 Addie’s impressive resume as a goalie makes her the perfect choice to be the goalie coach even if it means she and JJ can no longer keep the distance between them. He was her best friend and first love until it took a heartbreaking turn and now not only is she is coach, but she finds herself living with him and his daughter Avery as well as other family.
JJ may regret the events that tore he and Addie apart, but he could never regret his daughter. Now that Addie is back in his life he wants a second chance however that would mean not only discussing where things went wrong but dealing with what happened and finding a path forward.
There is so much turmoil between Addie and JJ that could have been easily overcome but what is the fun in that. The living situation is entertaining, the banter is humorous, the emotion heartfelt, the chemistry intense and the relationship that Addie has with both JJ and Avery will touch your heart.
A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers, Forbidden Love Standalone Romance from USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, Laura Pavlov.
Gracie Reynolds and I have been best friends since we were kids. She’s smart, kind, funny, beautiful—and one of the best parts of my life. When Gracie walks into a room, people notice. I always notice.
But when she moved across the world with a guy I despised, it felt like I’d lost a piece of myself. I missed her in ways I still can’t explain.
Now she’s back— and she’s crashing at my place for a couple of months while she figures things out. She’s single and ready for a fresh start. I’ve always had her back, and that hasn’t changed.
What has changed? The way that she looks at me. The way I can’t stop looking at her. So, when Gracie makes me a once in a lifetime proposition–obviously, I’m all in. But this isn’t your average gray area–it’s a full-on, sweat-inducing, five chili pepper detour we never meant to take.
Gracie has big dreams though, and I’d never be the guy to hold her back. Even if all I want…is to be the reason that she stays.
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💚Review💚 There hasn’t been a time that Gracie hasn’t been best friends even though her decision to follow her heart led her to relocating for a year with the man she thought she loved. She has recently returned home to regroup and decide what comes next and where better than with Cutler. When they finally gave in to the chemistry between them she faces the decision of whether to stay or to follow the plan she previously made.
Cutler has always loved Gracie, but he wanted her to be happy even if that was with another man. When he realizes that her relationship wasn’t all romance and roses he wants to show her what it could be like with him. The only problem is that her dreams seem to be directing her to leave town once again.
Cutler and Gracie have always belonged together and their feelings for other heartwarming and intense. The story finds the perfect balance between humor, romance and emotion as Cutler and Gracie try to find a way to have each other as well as their dreams.
Tropes: Friends with Benefits Agreement; Childhood Enemies; Curvy Heroine; Grumpy x Sunshine
Release Date: June 1, 2026
Crawling back home with my tail between my legs was not the way I saw my life going.
I had it all.
A fantastic job. A fiancée who adored me, and a life any man would dream of.
That’s about the time it all fell apart.
But Montana has a way of healing all wounds, from the beautiful sunrises to the fresh mountain air.
Sure, my father still hated me for leaving. My mother still defended him at every turn.
And the gossip…
It was enough to drive me insane.
And then I sat next to her at The Beaver and Boot.
Gorgeous, curvy, full of life, and so easy to talk to.
She was perfect.
Until I realized she was the same girl I tormented as a kid.
Yep, I was that boy who didn’t know how to tell a girl he liked her, so he picked on her. And boy, did she let me know how much she hated me.
Every Tuesday and Thursday night.
But the one thing she couldn’t ignore was the undeniable chemistry when my body was pressed against hers.It was only supposed to be a friends with benefits situation, but she wormed her way into my head, and made it impossible to ignore my own Foolish Pride.
“Fine. I’ll admit that he has pleasant features.”
They both burst out laughing at that.
“Okay, more than pleasant. Have you seen him?”
Delaney shook her head, waiting on tenterhooks for something more descriptive than “pleasant”.
“He’s…taller.”
“Taller,” she repeated. “That’s all you’ve got for me?”
I stuttered over my thoughts in frustration. I didn’t want to think about him or hot he was. It would only ruin my plan to stay as far away from him as possible. But she wasn’t having it.
“Not that much. But it’s one of those things that you can see through his shirt.”
Delaney sighed dreamily. “I love it when you can see their shirts stretched across their biceps.”
“Not to brag, but I have one of those,” Josie grinned.
Delaney smacked her arm. “Hey, some of us can only dream for now.” Then she turned back to me. “Go on.”
“Um…well, he still has warm, chocolate eyes. And his hair is shorter than it used to be.”
“Can you still run your fingers through it?”
As soon as I thought about it, shivers raced down my spine. That was not good. “Yes.”
“Oh my God,” Josie whispered. “Did you hear that hitch in her voice?”
“I definitely did. Tell us more.”
“There was no hitch.”
“There was definitely a hitch. Which means it’s really good. Now spill!”
I’m a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, “No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book.” I didn’t think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn’t already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven’t been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.
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🎉Review🎉
Ryder thought that his personal and professional life was exactly where he wanted it to be only to realize that trying to do the right thing will change everything. He now finds himself back in his hometown looking for a fresh start however running into the woman he liked but didn’t treat well when they were in high school wasn’t part of the plan.
Ellie tried to do the right thing however the outcome has her feeling like an outcast in her own town. Finding out that the man who played on her insecurities as a teenager is back was something she wasn’t ready for especially when it comes to the unexpected feelings they are developing for each other.
This is a story of healing, second chances and a love that neither saw coming. You can’t help but feel what both Ryder and Ellie are going through and that ending will leave you needing the next book in this series.
She places her palm on my thigh as she regains her balance, but her laughter brightens her whole face. I grab my phone real quick and take a photo of her. The first one I’ll have of many.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
“Think it’s obvious. I just took your photograph. You look real pretty when you laugh.”
She stamps a foot. “Oh my god. I need to get a spine.”
Now, I laugh. “What do you mean by that?” “You keep saying things, and I keep melting.”
Confused, I pull her to me. “Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”
“No, I’m supposed to set boundaries. Like, tell you to ask me if you want to take my photo.”
“See?” she says, throwing up her hands. “Hi, I’m Maren. I’m an ice cube that turns into puddle every time my boyfriend says not-suitable-for-work sweet things. Pleased to meet you.”
The blindfold is lifted to rest on my forehead. Daniel is always a nice surprise, but he’s blocking my view. When he steps aside, my hands fly to cover my mouth when it drops open. I pivot my gaze back to him, who knows by the smirk on his face that he’s done good. Darn good.
I glance at the box stuffed in an arena seat and see white ice skates still inside. Tears flood my eyes, and even when I tip my head back, I can’t keep them from falling. “You brought me ice-skating?”
“Figured we could skate together since we’re a long way off from preseason.”
He flips a seat down for me to sit. I take in the rink and the arena, the scoreboard, and the large speakers, their penguin mascot painted under layers of ice, and the team’s logos on the sides. “This is where you play?”
He sits next to me to start putting on his skates. “This is where I play.”
The tears should have subsided. I don’t know why, but I feel closer to him than ever, being here. Leaning over, I hug him. “Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“It’s fun you’re here, Sunshine. So I guess I should have asked. Do you know how to ice-skate?”
Oh boy. “It’s been a while, but I sure do. I was Frosty the Snowman in our school’s production in third grade. It was a live show on ice.”
“I can’t wait to see those moves.”
“Yeah, watch out. Literally.” I laugh just as the crackle of speakers is sharp to the ears. A pop song soon comes through. Removing the blade covers from his skates, he backs onto the ice. I take one off and then the other just as the song changes from upbeat to . . . My heart catches in my throat. “Are you romancing me, Mr. Sutton?”
“May I have this dance?”
I take his hand and step onto the ice. I want to say it’s like riding a bike, but I’m grateful the sides of the skates are reinforced to keep my ankles from breaking.
He asks, “Can you skate backward?”
“No.” I flash a humorless grin. “Absolutely not.”
Moving his hands to my waist, he says, “Hold my shoulders. I got you.”
I’m a little stiff, so Dart takes my hand and sets it around his neck. He slips his now free hand to my hip. We feel even closer. His heart races beneath my other hand. The back of his neck is damp. His forehead is almost against mine.
“Hold onto me, Forever,” he whispers, his breath brushing my lips.
“I don’t want people to think I’m clinging to you.” The words come out in a rush. A river of panic. Not that I care what people think, but I don’t want to look like I’m clinging to the man who broke my heart.
Dart stills. He lifts my chin and meets my eyes. “Then let me cling to you.”
He scoops his hand around my back again while the other one slips around my nape. We look like we’re embracing more than dancing. Dart picks up that subtle sway again and hums in my ear, emphasizing certain words in the tune.
From USA Today Best Selling author Mary Catherine Gebhard comes a brand new dark romcom about a girl who makes a dating profile to live out all of her spicy, bookish fantasies.
He was all my twisted, dark book boyfriend fantasies come to life. Masked. Tattooed. Dirty talking—and totally unhinged. Morally grey? Check. Stalker? Check. A very illegal, very bloody hobby? Check. Possessive, obsessive, and calls me a good girl? Check. Check. Check. I should probably call the police. I definitely shouldn’t take dirty selfies because I know he hacked my phone. But what’s a girl to do? It’s my very own stalker romance.
About the Author:
I started writing the moment I could read. My first characters were Wibbley and Squig and I used MS Word and clipart to bring them to life when I was a kid in elementary school. I started seriously thinking about being a writer in High School and I remember the day exactly, because it was such an epiphany. I was always so uncertain. You know how everyone was always asking what you wanted to be when you were older? Well I NEVER could decide.
I wanted to be a marine biologist.
An actor.
A FIRE FIGHTER (thank you Joaquin Phoenix in Ladder 49 for that phase).
One day it hit me—A WRITER. I could do it ALL. Then you couldn’t stop me from writing. I penned my first novel at fifteen (but don’t ask me to show it to you, because it’s like I was in competition to beat the thesaurus). When I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, writing became even more important, because it became my therapy. When I wrote my characters, suddenly I wasn’t so alone.
These days you can find me daydreaming about where to travel with my husband, singing in my car, or lost in the newest K drama. And planning my next novel, of course
Soren “Rev” Halvorsen never lost control. Then a terrified blonde crashed into his bike on a dark road, and the Redline Kings captain decided she was his.
After barely escaping a serial killer, Delaney Crosswell felt like the world was unsafe. Except for when she was in Rev’s arms. She knew that danger was a part of the motorcycle club, but the sexy biker quickly proved he’d burn the world down before letting anything touch her.
Delaney has managed to escape a dangerous situation however the threat is far from over when the person responsible is in pursuit. She manages to make it to the road and will do whatever is required even if that means running in front the motorcycle being driven by Rev.
Rev isn’t sure what happened to Delaney, but what he does know is that the feelings he has for her are unlike anything he has ever felt before and he wants to protect her. He is willing to be patient and allow her to heal while ensuring the person responsible will never hurt anyone again.
The camaraderie between the MC members and their women is second to none as they are always there for each other and the romance between Delaney and Rev is heartwarming as from their first meeting he made her feel safe.
One Dark Window meets Penny Dreadfuls in this gothic grimdark romantasy about a girl searching for her missing brother and falling for a mysterious boy who may be a vampire. It is set in an alternative Victorian world that worships incorruptible, beautiful relics, whose Keepers find themselves caught up in a war of magic.
BLURB:
Simona Sarsi is about to become Keeper of her House relic, the famed Myron. The only problem? She can’t hear his voice inside her head, as she’s supposed to.
Her melancholia over the recent disappearance of her brother may be the cause, but much more is at stake than her personal woes. A series of murders and unexplained magical sightings rock her city, and then there’s Jack, a mysterious boy she rescues from an abandoned necropolis.
Who is he? He’s pretty and brooding and has strange powers, but what’s more concerning is that he can’t remember his past.
Meanwhile, the timing of her brother’s disappearance is starting to feel less and less like a coincidence when she discovers that the island’s Governor and the Church are covering up dangerous secrets.
With the help of Jack and her friends, she works to untangle the web of lies and magic—only to find that the relics are stirring in their tombs and chaos is about to break loose.
The dead are supposed to stay dead, not turn out to be blood-sucking vampires; the world has to follow the natural laws. But on her island, the old gods are about to start a war, with Simona’s family and friends at its very heart.
Not in boardrooms. Not in backroom deals. And definitely not in Halo City—where money talks, secrets kill, and the underbelly has teeth.
But his brothers’ hunt for their missing father drags Banks straight into a blood-slick maze of power players, dirty cops, and men who smile like friends while they sharpen knives behind their backs.
Then she becomes the target.
She’s the one loose end no one saw coming—too brave, too stubborn, and suddenly standing between Banks and the truth. Protecting her should be simple: lock it down, move her somewhere safe, burn anyone who gets close.
Except she doesn’t want saving… and Banks doesn’t know how to want anyone this much.
Halo City wants her silenced. Banks wants her in his arms.
And the moment he claims her, this stops being business.
Because in a city like this, love is leverage— and Banks Hawthorne is about to turn ruthless.
Not only are Banks and his siblings trying to find the father they had believed passed away but now it appears that two of his brothers have been abducted. The trail leads to Halo City so his decision to take an assignment is twofold as not only will it give him a cover for his personal investigation, but it will allow him to protect Anniston as well.
When Anniston realized that all was not as it should be she decides to do the right thing which has placed her in danger. Her first meeting with Banks is both humorous and adventurous and the only way to ensure the people responsible are held accountable requires a little forced proximity and action.
Flirty banter, a touch romance and suspense all add up to an entertaining story which leaves us needing to know what the future holds for the Hawthorne family.
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