A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
I grew up on Wildhaven Storm Ranch, raised on hard work, determination, and tradition. Now I’m fresh out of college and chasing a dream that feels just out of reach—working at the historic Belicourt Resort Hotel while trying to convince my oldest sister, Matty, to let me turn part of our family land into a guest ranch and spa.
The Belicourt has a long-standing reputation for being haunted—full of whispered legends, unexplained sightings, and guests who swear they’re not alone in its halls. I think it’s charming. Mysterious. Marketable. My new boss, Porter Garrison, doesn’t agree. He’s all rules, rigid schedules, and closed doors, and he’d much rather I stick to spreadsheets than old legends and small-town folklore.
But I see potential in the past—in the stories people tell. And behind his cool, controlled exterior and expensive suit, I see the man beneath—the cowboy full of fire and buried passion he’s trying desperately to hide.
Maybe the hotel isn’t the only thing haunted. Maybe some dreams are worth fighting family for. And maybe, after the storm, we both need something to believe in—especially each other.
Cormac Kelly was my first best friend…and he broke my heart before I even knew it was his to break.
Every summer of my childhood belonged to Sugar Brush, Wyoming and the boy with pale blue eyes who knew all my secrets. We spent those long, golden days running wild across his family’s ranch, covered in dirt and convinced nothing would ever change.
But things do change. And somewhere along the way, my first best friend became a stranger.
Then the night before my wedding, I accidentally overheard what Cormac really thought of me, pushing me into making the worst decision of my life.
Three years later, I’m divorced and back in Sugar Brush for the summer, working as an outdoor adventure guide and hoping this will be the fresh start I need.
But Cormac still lives on the ranch. And he’s impossible to avoid.
He’s there when I need help. When I need a steady hand. And the gentle way he looks at me now doesn’t match the cruel words I heard him say that night.
The more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to remember why we ever walked away from each other.
When one unexpected kiss sparks a passion neither of us saw coming, I start to question everything I thought I knew.
Did I misunderstand the night that changed everything?
Did we let the best thing in our lives slip away?
And more importantly…how can I let myself fall for Cormac when we both know this summer is all the time we have?
R.C. Stephens has revealed the covers for Embers and Echoes!
Releasing April 29, 2026
Coming to Maple Valley was supposed to be temporary.
Work the summer on the orchard. Keep my head down. Find answers about the best friend I lost years ago.
Simple.
Until I met my boss.
Asher Thorne is everything I should stay away from–gruff, protective, and impossible to ignore. He’s an MMA fighter chasing his next big win.
A man who’s spent his life moving from town to town, never staying long enough for anything or anyone to matter.
The orchard is the only thing anchoring him here. And he’s made one thing clear from the start.
Mixing business with pleasure is a terrible idea.
Too bad avoiding him is impossible. Not when the way he looks at me makes my pulse trip. And not when one kiss from him makes me want things I’ve never wanted before.
Falling for him was never part of the plan.
But the closer I get to the truth about my friend’s disappearance, the more Asher insists I stop digging.
Because Maple Valley has secrets. And someone wants the past to stay buried. But I came here looking for answers.
I never expected to find the one man who could derail my plans.
Danny tried the relationship thing, and it ended violently. He has no desire to let another alpha close enough to hurt him…especially not an intimidating stranger like Knox.
Knox has never been called patient. He’s grumpy and stubborn, and he’s afraid he’ll inadvertently push Danny further away.
But when a rogue wolf pack threatens the omegas of Grizzly Ridge, Danny must trust Knox if he wants to escape with his life—and heart—intact.
Sharing a heated glance across a crowded bar, they both feel the spark of something monumental. And then life throws a curveball, separating them before they even have a chance to properly meet.
Bryce is a former major league pitcher who retired after a career-ending injury. Still young, he embraces his love of geology, and secures a job in Homer, Alaska. He falls in love with the state, and becomes infatuated with a woman he saw only briefly, who looks strikingly similar to an internet pin-up model he follows.
Craving independence and privacy after high school graduation, Lucinda moved to a small town outside Homer to start living her best life as a true crime podcaster. A virginal introvert with a big heart, she spends her free time crocheting blankets for babies in the NICU. But she’s not as innocent as she appears. She has a secret… She’s a sultry internet pin-up model.
Since exchanging glances that one fateful night, they’ve been pining for each other. Then fate steps in and brings them together in the most unexpected place… on a fishing charter in the middle of Kachemak Bay.
An unlikely pair with intense, unquestioning chemistry, they’re forced to work together, and confront the assumptions they hold about one another.
Rhodes and his four-year-old daughter Chloe are still trying to heal from the loss of his wife and her mother. The demands of playing hockey professionally has convinced Rhodes that he needs a nanny however when Finn arrives at his door he realizes that she is so much more.
Working for Rhodes is a way for Finn to save the money she needs for the trip she has always wanted. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement however the feelings between them are anything but however will they let the emotional scars of the past destroy the future they could have together?
I enjoyed the characters of Rhodes, Finn and Chloe and they are so relatable. Although they had some turmoil to overcome Chloe was there to be the voice of reason to ensure that the people she loved found their way back to each other.
Meet Elise Faber:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys. She lives in Northern California.
To find out about Elise Faber’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here
✨EXCERPT: THE BLOCKS WE MAKE by @authorbrookeobrien releasing April 3rd! Preorder or purchase on release day and get access to an exclusive bonus scene.
Cover Photographer: R plus M Photo/Reggie Deanching
My life was boring, so I decided to shake it up a bit.
With my life at the ranch changing by the minute, and not for the better, it seemed I would never find any excitement to fill my days.
They say to be careful what you wish for, and I learned that the hard way.
Walking in on a stranger trying on my teal coat, only to find out we slept together, was a shocker.
I didn’t remember a single second of how we met or what happened after.
Neither did he.
But apparently, everyone in town knew our business.
And the secret we were carrying around.
But before I got a chance to tell my new man any of this, things took a strange turn.
Bullets flying, men attacking every hour of the day, and neither of us had any idea why.
And that was just the bad stuff.
There was an undeniable chemistry between us, and keeping our hands to ourselves turned out to be harder than I thought.
But the infuriating man was insistent on keeping me safe.
And the whole time, all I really wanted to say was Shut Up and Kiss Me.
Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Review – “Some of her best writing…Holy cow, this book! I was immediately immersed in Murky Falls! I could not put this book down. Im excited to read the rest of the series!”
Real Good Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Review from C. Luna – “Real Good Man by Giulia Lagomarsino is the kind of small-town romance that sneaks past your defenses with humor, heart, and a slow-burn love you didn’t see coming—but end up rooting for with your whole chest.”
How Forever Feels ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Review – “This author never fails to entertain. Her characters come to life. You live their emotions. Every. Book is it’s own adventure. Next book please!”
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.
They’ve made it through the Iron Dungeon but not without a heavy cost, mentally and spiritually, for Jeb. His madness once again flared up, instigated by the revelation some of his soldiers have been pulled into the Crucible of War, and yet, they still have no clue where humanity will land, in which deranged City they will be shoved into, and if it is not Blood City, how they will get to them?
One thing is sure, Jeb would never abandon his Soldiers but they have far more on their plate than just humanity as they exit the Dungeon into the still waiting teeth of Greenskins looking to end them. They are also joined by some crazy Blood-elf Woman with questionable motives but they have no time to figure it out when blood is in the offing and the Emporium’s gates are in sight. Jeb struggles hard to think clearly with all that has happened, the guilt eating his soul along with the PTSD for the use and abuse he subjected his Boy to against the final Boss.
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