EXCERPT:Aiden Langfield is getting married. Aiden Langfield, who I havenāt spoken to in over ten years, is getting married. And Iām planning his wedding. Tell me the universe doesnāt have a wicked sense of humor.
Kind of like mine. Sarcastic and loud.
āJillian Murgo,ā the woman sitting primly beside my Aiden says.
Not your Aiden, Lennox. You canāt be territorial over a man you havenāt even spoken to in a decade.
āOf course.ā I paint on the perfect smile. The one Iāve perfected over the last twenty-nine years. The one my family expects me to wear to uphold our reputation. āWhat an exciting time. Tell me about yourselves. Howād you meet? Whatās the proposal story?ā
Did he tell you that I was his first kiss? That he promised Iād be his only kiss? That we once meant everything to one another?
Aidenās lip quirks into what I know is his true smile, as if he can read my internal ramblings, but he tamps it down quick.
āOh, where to even begin?ā the woman next to him says. Her voice is slightly nasal, just like her face. Seriously, her schnoz could give Pinocchio a run for his money.
āYes, where?ā I place my hands on the desk in front of me, keeping my eyes on her. If I look at Aiden, Iām liable to have a heart attack.
Aiden Langfield is getting married. The only man who ever held even a tiny piece of meāthe jokester, the romantic, the man I truly believed at one point would be my endgameāmarried.
How did we get here? My internal voice suddenly sounds like thirteen-year-old me, and judging by the venom in her whispered words, she isnāt happy with what Iāve done with our life.
āWeāve been together for almost three years,ā she explains, nudging the man next to her.
In response, he gives her a wide-eyed look that I interpret as what do you want me to add?
In my defense, my new migraine meds had packed quite the drowsy punch that morning. One minute I was trimming his GQ-worthy locks, and the next, I’d given him a side shave that would make a Marine jealous.
Fast forward through a ticked-off Dev Menon storming out of my salon, threatening legal action, and I’m thinking the day couldn’t get worse.
Except it does . . .
Dev returns hours later with a wild proposition, “Marry me. Temporarily.”
Turns out his mother’s dying wish is to see him get hitched, and I’m the lucky girl who owes him a debt. The catch? I also have to move in with him to really sell the ruse.
So, I counter with a wilder proposition: a purely physical relationship with three simple rules. No kissing, no sleepovers, and definitely no falling in love.
Except, the more time I spend with him, the harder it becomes to stick to my rules. Dev’s charm, his skilled hands, and his enormous . . . heart are testing my resolve. Even my traitorous cat is smitten.
Did I get more than I bargained for, or am I about to lose this very hairy game of pretend?
Cover Designer: Cover Me Darling Photographer: Ren Saliba Cover Illustrator: Anna Noel
Swati MH is a Texas raised Indian-American contemporary romance author living in the Bay Area with her very own book husband and two beautiful daughters. When she’s not writing stories full of humor, heart, and heartbreak, she’s likely thinking about doing so . . . preferably while holding a glass of wine.
I pick my beer up and take another sip. āNo, you donāt.ā
āDonāt tell me how I can and canāt feel!ā Her frustration, combined with the booze, has her voice raising several octaves higher, and I notice as Jonās head whips around from where he is making out with Felicity at the bottom of the garden like a pair of teenagers.
I set my bottle back down and run a hand through my hair. Sheās still sitting forward on the chair, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. āHereās the thing, Princess. If I donāt take charge of this situation between us and leave it all to you, then I fear weāll never actually f*ck. And I canāt have that.ā I donāt know if itās the beers and wine Iāve had tonight, but I take a huge gamble and shift my hand to her left hip, teasing her skin through the thick, black fabric of her dress.
Her lips part at the contact, but she fights to keep her arms folded across her chest. āGo find a redhead,ā she spits.
My grip tightens slightly. āYouāve got no idea what youāre talking about.ā
āMmm-hmm, I think I do.ā
āTell me, is this incessant need to always be right with everyone or just when it comes to me?ā
She pins me with a glare. āYou.ā
I canāt wipe the shit-eating grin off my face. āGood answer.ā
A long stretch of silence passes between us before I speak again. āYou havenāt asked me to move my hand.ā
āI hadnāt noticed it was there.ā
I laugh and catch the slight lift of her lips, too.
āYou were never a one-night stand to me, Katherine.ā
Her brows shoot to her hairline. āI hate that name even more.ā
āI donāt.ā
She shakes her head and looks up into the now fully darkened sky, clearly not wanting to make eye contact. āYou had your chance, and you blew it. Then you set it alight when you hooked up with that brunette three weeks ago.ā
āHereās my dilemma. Whatever I tell you happened, you wonāt believe. Youāll choose your fictional version of events. Because youāre a spoiled brat like that.ā
I probably shouldnāt have added the last bit. Sh*t.
She sucks on her teeth and looks at me, anger blazing in her eyes.
F*ck me, sheās hot like this.
āThen why in the world would you want to sleep with a spoiled brat?ā
With my hand still on her hip, I pull her toward me. Itās only a couple of inches, but our thighs are almost touching. Leaning down to whisper in the shell of her ear, I decide to give it to her straight. Iām done playing games. āBecause you arenāt a brat. Because you arenāt always right, and you know you arenāt. Because you know, deep down, I didnāt sleep with the redhead that night, and I didnāt hook up with the brunette either. Why? Because you invade my thoughts and drive me to the point of insanity. I have to have you, Princess. Trouble is, once I do, Iām not sure Iāll be able to stop. Thereās not a chance in hell youād be a one-night standāIāve been f*cking you in my dreams since the day you pulled on my jersey and sat yourself across my lap.ā
Blurb:
She canāt stand me.
She also thinks sheās got me all worked out.
My Princess is determined to stay as far away from me as possible. Eighteen months ago, she wanted me, but now sheās convinced Iām bad news.
The thing is, an attraction like ours doesnāt just fade, and my need for her has only grown stronger no matter how many times she offers me a scowl instead of her beautiful smile.
Weāve been playing a game of cat and mouse since the day she wore my jersey, and fortunately for her, I love the chase. I love to watch the way her body reacts to mine. Iād fall to my knees in front of her if I didnāt think sheād kick me while Iām down and unearth painful memories from my past that Iāve worked to keep hidden for so long.
Iām not the only one with secrets and a hurtful past, though. The walls sheās built around her are so high that I doubt anyone can see the real Kate. But I can; I see it all. I know what makes my girl tick and what she truly wants from life. I was just waiting for a chance to prove it.
And now that itās here, Iām going all in to make Kate Violet Monroe fall in love with me.
Sheās the virginal cheerleader, and heās the tortured bad boy. Their worlds are different, but college life at Dickson University brings them together in a passionate, angsty, fiery collision.
Finn Hayes is what girls my age would call āstupid hot.ā Heās handsome, has brown eyes that remind me of warm chocolate chip cookies, and a tall, muscular build that makes marble sculptures jealous.
Green flag, right?
Wrong.
Heās also broody, closed off, and so complex that it feels like I need a decoder to crack him.
Heās unlike anyone Iāve ever met and fights like he came out of the womb swinging, taking down both my ex-boyfriend and an ex-UFC fighter with ease.
But the underground society at our college known as Double C has nothing on him in the secrets department, and itās that mysterious edge that keeps me coming back for more.
This is more than the story of how Finn and I fell in love.
This is proof that love has a learning curve. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimesā¦it destroys you.
About Max Monroe Many moons ago, a dynamic duo of romance authors teamed up under the pseudonym Max Monroe, and, well, the rest is history…
Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of more than thirty contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like theyāve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.
Family has brought Finn to Dickson University even if the person who brought him there knows nothing about him. When he meets Scottie, he is attracted to her, but he has family issues that he needs with however fate has a way of bringing them together until he realizes what they mean to each other.
Scottie has come to Dickson University where no one knows her family or her past. She is focused on school and cheerleading and isnāt sure what to do about her feelings for Finn which doesnāt lead to the best actions. When her life is continuously turned upside down it is Finn who is always there for her and shows her what love truly is.
Rather than everything that Finn and Scottie had to go through tearing them apart it brought them closer and only reinforced that they were stronger together than apart. Emotion and turmoil is offset against the humor and great friendships they both created.
A bad play shouldnāt cause a media meltdown but Iām Kyle Bosco and Iām a competitive jerk. So of course I couldnāt just shut up.
Now I must atone for my comments. Somehow that includes working at a daycare with seven year old Piper who thinks Iām her best friend. But Piper is not the one who has me tied up in knots. That job is reserved for Harper Wallace- her mother.
Harper is fierce, combative, and an irresistibly gorgeous single mom.
If hating me were a sport, sheād be MVP. For reasons I canāt tell you, sheās completely off limits so I obviously should stay away.
But hear me out?
Iām a competitive jerk. Iām not the guy that rides the bench. Iād rather go down swinging and foul out than not play at all.
Craving Chaos by Jill Ramsower is now live in audio!
Narrated by: Kelsey Navarro Foster & Aiden Snow
A brand new mafia rivals stranded together romance from internationally bestselling author Jill Ramsower.
Shae
One tiny shack for warmth.
A single bed no bigger than a camping cot.
And a meager supply of canned food insufficient for one adult, let alone two.
And thatās the kicker.
Iām not just stranded; Iām stuck here with Renzo Donati, boss of the Giordano Mafia family.
Heās Italian, maddeningly arrogant, and my only hope of survival.
But thatās all he is to meāall heāll ever be. A means to an end.
The way his fingers massage my scalp when he washes my hair? Utterly irrelevant.
His unwavering tone when he insists on checking my injuries? Inconsequential.
Being with Renzo would mean the end of everything I am.
Everything Iāve worked so hard to become.
I cannot let him break me, no matter how desperately I want to shatter in his hands.
Renzo
Shae wants to refuse me. To keep me at a distance.
Well, I refuse to accept her refusal.
Iāll show her just how hardheaded I can be.
I wonāt give up until every one of her prickly edges melts in submission beneath me.
Because I know what fate has already decided. What I feel deep in my bones and what her body has already accepted, despite her mindās objectionsā¦
Shae Byrne is mine.
*Craving Chaos is the first book in the Moretti Malice series, which is a spin-off of the Byrne Brothers. Each book in the series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone with a happily ever after, but for maximum enjoyment, follow the recommended reading order. A dark romance with adult themes, Craving Chaos may not be suitable for sensitive audiences.
Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.
With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.
š§Reviewš§ Shae has always known that she has been loved within her mafia family but earning their respect and showing she was capable was more of a challenge. She has found her place within the business however when she is abducted with a member of a rival family, and they find themselves stranded it will force her to reevaluate the future she really wants.
After the death of his father Renzo became the head of his mafia family. He is intrigued by how fierce and feisty she is which only makes him want her more. When they are stranded together with their regular lives standing between them the feelings between them are undeniable but when they are rescued choices must be made.
Shae is Renzoās equal in every way and they are each otherās perfect partner in both life and love. The narrators were the perfect choice for the characters as you could feel the protective and possessive side of Renzo as well as the sassy and spirited person that Shae was.
šš¢š š ššš š: š§šµš² šŖš®š¶šš¶š»š“ š¦š²šæš¶š²š š”š²š š šš²š»š²šæš®šš¶š¼š» by Ginger Scott releases on October 10th. We are thrilled to share the cover with you!
Football has been my life. Not that I ever had a choice in the matter. When your dad is a retired, future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, the gridiron tends to weave its way into your DNA.
I always loved the game, but I could do without the spotlight that comes with being Peyton Johnson, the great Reed Johnsonās daughter. To make matters worse, when my dad retired from the NFL, he decided his second calling was to take over the head coaching gig at my high school, where he has coached my boyfriend for the last three years.
Correctionāmy ex-boyfriend.
While the fairytale high-school sweetheart story may have worked for my parents, I have other plans. And following a self-absorbed athlete to college is not part of them, no matter how hard my dad tries to push me and my ex together.
Thankfully, a new high school opens and draws a line through the center of our town, sending half of my dadās players to a new team. And apparently, their new quarterback is breaking all of my dadās old state records. Itās the ultimate distraction, giving me the chance to land myself a spot on the cheer team at any college that isnāt close to home.
But then I meet him. Wyatt Stone. The guy my dad considers our enemy. The best quarterback Iāve ever seen. A complete jerk who I canāt quit thinking about. And running into. And rooting for.
Now, Iām the one who is distracted. And repeating my parentsā love story doesnāt sound so bad after all.
Cover Designer: Ginger Scott
Photographer: Sydney French, The Broken Compass Photography
Set sail with USA Today bestselling author R.S. Grey in this sizzling romance between old rivals who reunite on a cruise ship, only to discover that they want much more than just another competition.
Casey Hughes is a struggling travel journalist desperate for a big break when she lands the assignment of a lifetime: hop on board Aurelia for its maiden voyage through paradise. While she’ll bask in the luxury cruise ship’s fine dining and complimentary spa treatments, her real mission is to snag an exclusive interview with Phillip Woodmont.
Casey and the elusive shipping heir have history. Once, they were nothing short of brutal enemies. Though the former brace-faced teen is now a suited-up CEO with devastating good looks, he makes it clear to Casey that he has no interest in forgetting their past.
The volatile grudge between them is as explosive as ever. More than once Casey is tempted to toss Phillip overboard, but for her work, she’ll have to swallow her pride. If it’s an apology he’s after, she’ll serve it up on a silver platter. If he wants her to walk the plank, she’ll salute with an aye, aye, Captain.
Casey can’t let him provoke her. She needs this interview. So if Phillip wants to play dirty, Casey will just have to play dirtier.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
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.
š³Reviewš³ Caseyās goal is to become a travel journalist however she finds herself stagnated in her current position with the magazine where she works. Facing nothing but challenges, both personally and professionally, to ensure she gets the assignment of interviewing the CEO while on a Caribbean cruise she claims a relationship with him that one might say is exaggerated.
Philip is a successful businessman who has a past with Casey that he would like to forward even if it happened two decades ago. He has no intention of being interviewed by anyone but especially Casey however he soon realizes the sparks of animosity between them are only a cover for feelings that run much deeper.
Humorous banter, a less-than-ideal past and feelings and chemistry that neither expected is sure to entertain as what begins as a battle of wills evolves into so much more.
