If you’re reading this, I’m no longer with you, and I imagine both of you are staring morosely at each other, not sure what to do. I won’t waste time telling you I’m in a better place, because I have no clue what happens after you die. The only thing I can speak to with any surety is my unwavering faith in the two of you to continue without me. I want you to know in the end, I wasn’t scared.
A man could not have been luckier than to have you both in my corner, through all the good times and in the end, the bad.
Atlas… you’ve been my wingman since we were five. You weren’t just a friend, you were my brother. And Maddie… you were the sister I never had, and my only sadness is that I wish I’d known you longer.
Maddie, I know you’ve already agreed to take Grayce—
I don’t need to say how much that means to me, knowing that Grayce will grow up under your loving touch. You’re going to make the most amazing mother, and I hope Grayce turns out to be just like you.
But you can’t do it alone. No offense, but Grayce needs more than one person trying to fill in for me. She needs every ounce of love and support she can get. Which is where you come in, Atlas.
I need you to help Maddie raise my daughter. I want you to be her dad. She needs your steady hand, your stubborn will, your heart. Everything about the man you are—that’s what I want for her. I can’t give it to her anymore, but you can.
You’re not my brother by blood but through all of our life experience together. I trust you implicitly, and I know you’ll show up, even when it’s hard. It’s why I waited until after I was gone to ask this of you, so you couldn’t argue with me about it.
All the legal stuff is handled. Take care of her. Take care of each other. Don’t let me down.
ONLY ON GAMEDAY by Kristen Callihan is NOW LIVE! Make sure to grab this all-new fake engagement sports romance TODAY!!
NOW AVAILABLE!
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An ALL-NEW sports romance from New York Times bestseller Kristen Callihan with high emotional stakes and a slow-burn, steamy heat level. A “fake” fiancée is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image. Trouble is, there’s nothing fake about the way August feels about his “pretend” fiancée. August Luck is on the brink of greatness: top NFL draft pick, a great team, multiple corporate sponsorships, but he keeps messing it up with bonehead moves. After his latest shenanigan goes viral, everyone is telling him to get his act together. Penelope Morrow grew up with August. Their mothers were best friends. Unfortunately, Pen always fled the room with a look of disapproval on her pretty face whenever August was around. But Pen has a problem too: she inherited her grandparent’s house and can’t pay the estate tax. On a whim, August decides a temporary public engagement is the solution to both their problems—he’ll pay her taxes, and she’ll help his image. Win-win. But, when it comes to Pen, nothing is certain or safe. Because Pen isn’t so reserved anymore. This time, she’s smiling back at him. And he likes it. A lot. Will they each survive the ruse unscathed? Game on… Perfect for readers who love: Shy girl/sunshine boy Hero in hot pursuit Unrequited love + epic yearning Fake dating (or is it?) Delicious slow-burn romance Childhood nemeses (all grown up)
🏈Review🏈 August is the star quarterback who is just starting his rookie season in the NFL. When a less-than-ideal video of him goes viral he needs to change his image and what could be better than a pretend fiancé who he has known since they were children.
Penelope is a college student who has recently inherited her grandmother’s house however she can’t afford the property taxes. She has known August since they were kids and has been friends with his siblings and now she is going to get to know August as well.
Both August and Penelope have had feelings for each other for years but neither has acted on it. I enjoyed seeing the heartfelt moments, the humorous banter and the enchanting romance as they finally acknowledged their feelings for each other and the relationship they had for both their families was endearing. The audio performance by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton was flawless and I listened to it in one day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards.
Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. In 2015, Kristen received a RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance for her novel Evernight.
Kristen is a child of the 80s, which means she s worn neon skirts, black lace gloves, and combat boots although never all at once and can quote John Hughes movies with the best of them. A lifelong daydreamer, she finally realized the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history led her to write historical paranormal novels. She lives in the Washington, DC, with her husband and two children.
Darkness threatens to consume him, but nothing will stop him from keeping her safe….
Ricochet:
All it takes is one glance and I know Jordan is going to be mine.
Her sweet smile and infectious energy make me feel alive again.
She chases away the shadows, giving me a reason to continue on.
But just as I’m beginning to win the elusive beauty over trouble comes for my family.
I may be a veteran with PTSD and a member of a notorious motorcycle club, but both have given me skills that allow me to address any threat and win.
I refuse to let my past dictate my future, and convincing Jordan to trust me is a matter of life and death.
Jordan:
From the first moment that Ricochet and I meet, I know he’s trouble.
The sexy biker has a dangerous and mysterious past that scares me.
I’ve been down this road before with my violent ex and I’m not sure I can do it again.
As I get to know him, I realize he’s more than just a biker with a tough exterior.
Can I trust my own heart even though it’s led me astray before?
When danger comes, I find myself trapped in the crossfire. His past catching up with him is everything I’ve been afraid of, and I’m not sure what to do.
I know deep down that Ricochet will do anything to protect me, but can I learn to trust him even though I’ve been burned in the past?
Fake dating her gay best friend to avoid the man of her dreams should be a piece of cake…right?
Zoya Mikhail
I was not supposed to fall for my sister’s hot guitarist, Jareth Grayson. I wasn’t supposed to kiss him, either.
But mistakes were made.
Asking my gay best friend to pose as my boyfriend at my sister’s wedding is an act of desperation meant to keep me out of Jareth’s arms.
Until it fails spectacularly.
My bestie is MIA as soon as we land, and I’m pretty sure Jareth is stalking me. It’s the only explanation for why I keep ending up in his arms.
He’s a rockstar with a vineyard to run. I’m still in grad school, half a country away. This is never going to work. But God help me, I don’t want it to end, either.
Jareth Grayson
The woman of my dreams skipping town after I kissed her? Brutal.
Finding out that she has a boyfriend? Ouch.
Watching her boyfriend dote on her at my family’s vineyard? Oh, hell no.
Zoya Mikhail is mine. She can pretend she’s in love with another man all she wants, but I know better. I see the way she looks at me like she’s dying for another taste. She’s wild about me, and she knows it.
As soon as I find out why she’s lying to herself, I intend to put a stop to it.
In the meantime, I’ll be putting my hands on her curvy little body as often as necessary to remind her where she belongs. Right here with me.
Whiskey Promises is a spicy small-town romance featuring a possessive alpha hero, a reluctant-to-love heroine, a merry band of interfering cousins, and a whole lot of banter.
They say all is fair in love and war. Clearly, they haven’t met Warner Landers.
The ruthless billionaire had me begging him to spare my family’s restaurant from a buyout. In response, he shamelessly flirted and walked away wearing a smug smirk.
Karma strikes, literally, when he crosses the street.
Unconscious, he’s rushed to the hospital, and for some unknown reason, I’m swept in right after him as if I know this man—or worse, that I’m married to him.
Am I in too much shock to deny the allegation? Yes.
Am I still using his short-term amnesia to my advantage? Absolutely.
Playing the doting wife to a grumpy CEO won’t be easy, but I’m determined to save my family’s livelihood. I just didn’t expect him to be a changed man after the accident. Far graver (for me), the iciness between us begins to thaw, and our fake marriage starts to feel real, making it easy to forget my mission.
When his memory begins to return, so does the truth. We’re at war, and falling for the enemy wasn’t part of the plan.
Camden Snow is old enough to be my father, dangerously charming, annoyingly irresistible—and my future ex-boyfriend.
The moment I meet the former hockey player at his holiday party, the chemistry is off the charts. Despite the pesky feelings his presence stirs inside me, I have zero intention of actually dating the notorious bachelor.
I don’t date.
I’m only entertaining Camden’s advances because I have an article to write and a point to prove. For years I’ve witnessed my best friend date all the wrong men and repeatedly get her heart broken.
So I’m going to teach her and the rest of my readers what not to do when dating by doing all the stereotypical wrong things and getting dumped.
The only problem? Camden Snow won’t dump me.
In fact, everything I do to push him away only draws him closer.
Flirt with others? He gets possessive.
Talk about the future? He’s all in.
But what if the one thing that could destroy us is the only thing I never planned for? Will my theory prove to be right, or will our love last past the snow?
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
🏒Review🏒 Savannah has come up with the perfect idea for her column which is to chronicle what not to do if you want to keep your boyfriend and she has a list of ideas that are sure to drive a man away and now she just needs to find the man to test them on. This is where Camden comes in however rather than being deterred by her antics it only makes him want her more.
Camden is a former professional hockey player who is single and hasn’t met anyone who inspires him to change that despite what his friends think. When he meets Savannah he is charmed by her in a way he has never felt before and now he is trying to find ways to bring her closer instead of pushing her away and is about to show her what it means to test his limits.
The chemistry between them radiates off the pages as Savannah and Camden have met their perfect match in each other in every way. A little turmoil, humor, an alluring romance and all the feels as this captivating couple draw you in and won’t let you go.
Meet Brittanée Nicole
Brittanée Nicole is the author of the #1 international Amazon bestseller Playboy, which is part of her Boston Bolts Hockey series, as well as Mother Faker, which is part of the bestselling Momcom series. Known for writing swoony men who always fall first, Brittanée loves stories centered around strong friendships that form the basis of a found family and messy, beautiful love. She lives in New England with her husband and two children.
Phoebe Graham is a specialist in deep cover espionage, infiltrating the enemy, observing their practices, and when necessary eliminating the threat. Her latest assignment is McKay-Taggart Security Services, staffed with former military and intelligence operatives. They routinely perform clandestine operations all over the world but it isn’t until Jesse Murdoch joins the team that her radar starts spinning. Unfortunately so does her head. He’s gorgeous and sweet and her instincts tell her to trust him but she’s been burned before, so he’ll stay where he belongs—squarely in her sights.
A man on the run
Since the moment his Army unit was captured by jihadists, Jesse’s life has been a nightmare. Forced to watch as those monsters tortured and killed his friends and the woman he loved, something inside him snapped. When he’s finally rescued, everyone has the same question—why did he alone survive? Clouded in accusations and haunted by the faces of those he failed, Jesse struggles in civilian life until McKay-Taggart takes him in. Spending time with Phoebe, the shy and beautiful accountant, makes him feel human for the first time in forever. If someone so innocent and sweet could accept him, maybe he could truly be redeemed.
A love they never expected
When Phoebe receives the order to eliminate Jesse, she must choose between the job she’s dedicated her life to and the man who’s stolen her heart. Choosing Jesse would mean abandoning everything she believes in, and it might mean sharing his fate because a shadowy killer is dedicated to finishing the job started in Iraq.
🎧Review🎧 When Phoebe began working at McKay Taggart Security she had an agenda of her own as she is determined to uncover the truth about the past and she believes that they and Jesse have the answers. It was supposed to be a fact-finding mission and nothing else but now she has developed friendships and feelings for Jesse knowing that when everything is revealed nothing will ever be the same.
Jesse may have been rescued from the dire situation he found himself in, but the emotional toll remains. He has struggled as he tries to return to his life after what he endured but Phoebe grounds him. When they realize that the danger is far from over they need to work together and that will mean facing the turmoil from both their pasts.
The characters of Jesse and Phoebe draw you in and take you on action packed adventure that is filled with emotion as they fight for the new beginning they both deserve. Ryan West was everything this story needed and more as he brought out the depth of the feelings as well as the intrigue that kept you on edge.
✨TEASER: ON BORROWED TIME by @harlowjamesauthor releasing January 16th! This will be a simultaneous release in Audio with the amazing narrators Connor Crais & Vanessa Edwin in DUET!
Being a nanny for a newly single dad wasn’t the job I applied for when I decided to lick my wounds in Blossom Peak.
But showing him my bare backside wasn’t in my plans either.
When the pursuit of my dream career seemed unattainable, instead of going home and proving my parents right, I made a detour to the small mountain town I remember visiting as a kid.
I just wanted a waitressing job to make some extra money while I figured out my next steps.
But then the lumberjack of an owner begged me to help him with his three month-old daughter that he just found out existed, and I couldn’t resist his plea.
Or his massive physique—the one I saw every detail of when he appeared shirtless in front of me three times in the first week.
The problem with living together though is there’s little space, especially when my boss is so closed off that he’s like a nut I want to crack open.
And when I do, he steals the breath from my lungs—and reignites my creativity as well.
But I gave myself a deadline to figure out what’s next.
Nowhere in that plan though did I account for falling for Henley Clark.
Turns out the heart doesn’t care, even when you’re on borrowed time.
He should be off limits, but he’s the best kind of trouble.
Briar
My father gave me the family brewery as an early Christmas present.
Generous, right? Except every single person on staff just quit, and I only have a budget that’ll last through the end of the year.
I need a miracle.
Lucky for me, my best friend Hannah’s big brother, Liam, is a genius brewer, and she convinces him to quit his job and come work for me. She only has one condition: I can never date him.
It’s an easy agreement to make. I’ve vowed to stay away from men after an embarrassing breakup, and I’d never sleep with someone who works for me. Besides, Liam’s an amateur boxer and frankly a bit terrifying.
Only…it turns out my best friend’s brooding, insanely talented big brother is the only man who’s ever really understood me.
Liam
I promised my sister not to date any more of her friends, because the last time I tried, it ended badly. Very badly.
I took this job thinking it wouldn’t be a problem to stay away from Briar. She’s a daddy’s girl who looks like a princess and talks like a boarding school teacher. Not my type.
But the woman I wrote off knows a lot about beer, and she’s a whole lot tougher than I gave her credit for. I want to run this brewery with her…and I want her too.
To my complete shock, I’m falling hard for my boss, and if my sister finds out, there will be hell to pay.
Note: There are TWO different versions of this romcom:
1) A spicy open door version with some strong language and sex scenes
2) A closed door version with mild language and only kissing.
Nine months ago, I had one perfect, reckless night with Jasper Lawrence, the tall, tattooed firefighter who made me feel fearless. I told myself it was a mistake I’d never repeat.
Then he finds me at the Maple Festival… in labor with our surprise baby.
The best part? I had no idea I was pregnant.
Now Jasper is everywhere. The two of us stumble through new parenthood together. And he doesn’t just step up, he moves in. Almost. He pitches a tent in my backyard and sleeps outside so he’s never far away from us. He’s a shirtless, helpful menace who cooks, cleans, and cuddles our son. He makes me feel safe, seen, and wanted. And I hate how much I love it.
Every time I shove him away, he shows back up, golden retriever energy and all, with coffee and pastries in tow, ready to carry the baby, the groceries, and occasionally me.
I came to Maplewood, Vermont, to discover my independence. But it’s hard to keep my distance when the town’s been shaken by danger, the scars from my past refuse to stay buried, and the firefighter I should absolutely avoid keeps setting my world on fire.
Turns out the biggest threat to me in America’s most charming small town might be the man who won’t stop rescuing me.
Author’s Note: Sap & Secrets is a small-town romance featuring a curvy black cat, a tattooed golden retriever, and a (very cute) surprise baby. If you enjoy acts of service, small-town shenanigans, and maple syrup madness, you will not be disappointed.
Series Note: Welcome to Maplewood, Vermont. America’s Most Charming Small Town has some dark, sticky secrets. Come for the maple syrup, festivals, and cheese wars; stay for swoon.
✨ TEASER: PLAYING FOR THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER by @authorkimberlyknight & @rachellynadams releasing February 2nd! Pre-Order now at your favorite book vendor as it will be exclusive to Amazon on release day!
The president’s daughter shouldn’t be sharing a bed with two men.
She definitely shouldn’t still be thinking about them after one night together.
Faye Donnelley lives with every move photographed or judged. She can handle gossip blogs and political narratives, but what she really wants is something that isn’t for public consumption. One Fourth of July with two college baseball players finally gives her a night that isn’t for cameras or anyone outside that room.
Dylan Statler and Jase Matthewson are best friends, stepbrothers, and college teammates with dreams of making it to the big leagues. Hooking up with the president’s daughter was supposed to be a one-time thing. Except they can’t stop checking Faye’s socials or replaying how it felt with her pressed between them, their hands and mouths all over her.
After Dylan and Jase are drafted by different teams hundreds of miles apart, their private group text with Faye turns into stolen weekends, hotel rooms, and late-night video calls they can’t resist. It starts to feel like they aren’t just playing for their careers, but for the president’s daughter, and for something between the guys they can’t ignore.
If their relationship gets exposed, Faye could become a political talking point while sports media outlets dissect Dylan and Jase’s personal lives instead of their stats. That fallout would be bad enough, but when a terrifying moment shakes their world, it forces them to decide if they’re willing to risk it all or walk away from a relationship that only works when all three are together.
From the author of MOTHER PUCKER, the fan-favorite hockey romcom, comes a sizzling new spinoff featuring a broody billionaire, a haircut gone wrong, and a fake engagement that tests the limits of every rule she’s ever made.
I botched a broody billionaire’s haircut, and what did he ask from me in repayment?
That I become his fake fiancée!
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.
Soon enough, I’m realizing my career isn’t the only thing on the line with my hot-as-Hades fiancé. My heart is, too.
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?
Author’s Note: Reading this book can induce uncontrollable giggling, squealing, a newfound belief in true-love, and an inexplicable need to pet a hairless cat. Reader discretion is advised.
From the author of MOTHER PUCKER, the fan-favorite hockey romcom, comes a swoony and banter-filled new sports romance starring a single dad major league pitcher, a single mom who wants nothing to do with pro athletes, and a second chance neither of them saw coming.
I had a one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger, believing I’d never see him again. Except who did he turn out to be? Troy Winters, starting pitcher for the MLB and the hottest single dad to grace the planet.
What’s worse, he’s now my son’s new baseball coach.
In my defense, Troy and I had agreed to exchange fake names and occupations that fateful night in a seedy Colorado bar. One perfect night of no strings and a quick escape from my busy single mom life. . . Right?
Fast forward to a re-meet-cute that had me diving under a chair, an injury that sidelined him for a year, and now Troy is coaching my son’s team while he recovers.
His smoldering golden-hued gaze makes one thing clear: he’s not letting me disappear again.
But after a highly publicized divorce from a narcissistic pro-golfer, I’m done with the spotlight and athletes. No matter how cute their rear end looks in a uniform.
Yet Troy is relentless. Between his bond with my boy, his tenderness for his daughter, and our scorching chemistry, my walls are crumbling.
So I offer a compromise: a friends-with-benefits situation while he recovers. Once he returns to the MLB, we’ll go back to being just friends.
Simple enough, right?
Except, the more time I spend wrapped in his arms, the less simple everything becomes.
Now, with the MLB calling him back, I have a choice to make: stick to our deal and protect my heart or risk everything for the spotlight I’d vowed to avoid.
And, thanks to one reckless night, my soon-to-be baby daddy.
Patton Pierce has a knack for showing up when I least expect him—my street, my salon, my martial arts studio. Even my dreams.
Sure, I’ve pined for him over the past seven years, but if he thinks his low-slung gray sweatpants, backward cap, and infuriating grin will make me forget our past, then he’s in for a rude awakening.
But then my sister’s bachelorette party happens, and I have one too many drinks. One ridiculous dare later, and I find myself “kissing the boy I used to love”.
One kiss leads to one incredible night.
And one night leads to two very pink lines.
Patton says he wants me back, that nothing would make him happier than to have this baby with me. But I’ve heard those words before.
He chose Hollywood over me before, and he’ll choose it over me again.
Still, with him taking care of my every craving—both in and out of the bedroom—it’s getting harder not to fall for him.
The question is: will he be there to catch me this time?
I prefer to call myself a storyteller rather than an author. I’m a mom to two beautiful little girls and a wife to an incredibly supportive husband. My days start with caffeine and sometimes end with a glass (or three) of wine.
I’m a Texas raised Indian American currently living in the Bay Area. With a degree in Computer Science and an MBA, I’ve had a successful career building software products but writing is both my hobby and my passion.
For me, writing and reading are an escape from real life. I love meeting and creating characters who I’d love to take out for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. My goal as a storyteller is to distract my readers from their daily grind with stories about everyday couples finding and fighting for incredible love with the help of a little luck.
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 