I had enough on my plate. Getting involved with a notorious playboy was not on my agenda. Which is why he was perfect. He didn’t do relationships and I didn’t have time for one.
He’d been stoking my fire all weekend. Whispering dirty promises in my ear. Weaseling his way under my skin. And I was ready to combust.
He agreed to my terms. Probably because I was naked, he was caught off guard, and judging by the tent in his shorts, thinking with the wrong head.
I should have known better than to take him at his word.
Two days. That’s all he lasted before he showed up at my door begging for more.
More than I had to give. More than I was willing to part with.
My time. My body.
Most importantly, my heart.
And when I said no, he persisted until I caved. Not that he had to work very hard to wear me down. He was too tempting to ignore, and I craved another taste.
The only way to protect myself from getting hurt… rules. Some to keep him at a distance, others to keep him close.
Like rule number eight… no other sexual partners. The only dorm room I wanted him sneaking in and out of was mine.
I knew I was in over my head. That what we were doing was going to blow up in our faces as soon as our friends found out. But in the moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of it. Consequences be damned.
Rachael Brownell is an International Bestselling author of new adult romance.
She lives in Michigan with her husband, son, snuggly dog, and hateful cat. She moonlights a few days a week (her excuse to get out of the house and socialize) and writes almost full time. Her first book was published way back in 2013 and since she’s released more than 30 additional titles.
When she’s not writing her next novel, you can find her hanging out with her family, watching her son play baseball, or running on the treadmill at the gym (though she skips more days than she goes). She also enjoys golfing but is still learning, so if you see her on the course… stand back.
Title: The Holiday Plan Author: Emma Lynden Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Native New Yorker and author Verona Scott is battling heartbreak, both personally and professionally. Coming off a disastrous split with her ex, she’s struggling for inspiration to write her next book. And she’s lost without her favorite Aunt Theoni’s wisdom and guidance.
Hoping for a fresh start and to avoid the holiday completely, she’s planned a Valentine’s detox: a luxurious trip alone to the historic Courtington Castle hotel, near the adorably quaint town of Camelot Creek, tucked into a picturesque valley in the Adirondacks.
But escaping the heart-shaped balloons and red roses isn’t as easy as she thought.
This won’t be the restful retreat she’d imagined. Instead, she’s just walked into one of the biggest matchmaking events of the year. Not to mention, the incredibly attractive single dad and dating coach Troy Turner is heading the whole thing up, and he’s on a mission to include Verona in the festivities.
Troy is in the midst of a professional crisis of his own. After a bit of unfounded bad press, the very last thing he needs is a guest to cast doubt in the minds of his attendees.
Will Troy change Verona’s mind about the most romantic day of the year? Just when sparks begin to fly, an unexpected visitor checks into the castle, stirring up the past. No matter what, for Verona, Valentine’s Day is the day where everything changes.
A heartwarming, sweet romance that will whisk you away to a magical winter wonderland, and have you reaching for the hot cocoa and box of chocolates long after the holidays.
There was something wildly surreal about having a romance novel rejected on Valentine’s Day, and the extraordinary irony of the situation stung that much sharper. Like filing for bankruptcy in the fireworks business on the Fourth of July. Or having the funding for a gingerbread company fall through right at Christmastime.
She didn’t know how long she’d sat in place, stupefied by the succession of surprises she’d received, but watching the peaches-and-cream sky slowly fade into a soft lavender twilight outside the windows, it had been long enough for the sun to set. She didn’t snap back to herself until a beam of bright white shot up suddenly into the darkening room from the direction of her cell phone, its screen illuminated with a new message notification.
The falling leaves of autumn are like the deceit in my family lineage. Closing the door on the infinite cold—winter blossoms into the spring of new beginnings. In the next season of my life, I’m mending the pieces back together. Opening myself up, I even begin to date, which is a big step for me.
After graduating from high school, a shocking development causes me to be on alert. When nothing comes of it, I move forward, wanting desperately to put the past behind me.
About to start college, I bump into someone from my complicated past, and my heart is torn. The dilemma I struggle with: Do I let other people’s opinion define who I am? I must decide if I’ll push through the ridicule and pave my own path. Could the face that’s scorned me be the key to my resolve? I’ll never know if I take the easy way out.
I’ve unlocked my darkest secret only to have it return to torment me. As the thorns of his obsession encompass me, I discover I’m part of a twisted ploy. If I don’t figure a way out of this predicament, then the life I’ve known may cease to exist.
Don’t miss the riveting sequel to Madison’s story that will have you dangling on the edge of your seat.
“My own kinfolk are an actual reality show,” Kenya gushes.
Kenya shuts her mouth when Uncle Clemens scowls at her. Kenya’s mama hasn’t uttered a word. I think Aunt Pam is in shock. Regan stands abruptly. He glances at Tanya, his anger softening a bit, before he storms off.
“Regan, wait!” Charlotte pleads.
Aunt Cass giggles. “Wonder what your precious Regan thinks of you now.”
Charlotte explodes. “I’ve had it with you! You’re a two-faced, vindictive bitch!” She lunges across the table with lightning speed and punches her sister in the jaw.
“Oh, man!” Ryan shoots up, moving out of their path. But not before grabbing his plate of food.
Enraged, Aunt Cass grabs onto Charlotte’s head. She uses her weight, shoving her into the large mirror hanging on the wall. Charlotte’s head crashes into it, shattering the glass. Huge cracks form across the mirror in blood. Charlotte lets out a high-pitched shrill, and then goes bananas, wrapping her hands around her sister’s neck. Aunt Cass manages to loosen Charlotte’s hold by kneeing her in the stomach. Grabbing Charlotte’s hair with both hands, she body slams her onto the table. The force of impact causes the turkey to fly off. Rolls tumble over, scattering in several directions on the floor. Aunt Cass takes Charlotte’s head, ramming it into the bowl of sweet potatoes.
I’d been frozen at first, then reality hits. Dari, Kenya, and I scramble out of the way.
“Ma, stop!” Dari shouts.
Aunt Cass is beyond reason. Charlotte blindly grabs a fork, stabbing it into her hand, and Aunt Cass screams. Uncle Clemens jumps up, running over to try and break them apart. Uncle Drew seems shell-shocked—slow moving to make his way over to them. Uncle Clemens pries them apart momentarily, holding Charlotte back. Uncle Drew has his wife’s arm. Struggling, Charlotte breaks from her brother’s grasp, charging like a bull ram. Aunt Cass happily obliges, knocking her husband out the way. They appear to be fighting to the death.This is nuts! The Thibodeaux family is full of secrets, bigger than I ever imagined—starting with Gigi’s daughters. The secrets have turned into a deceit that is spreading like a plague. Venomous lies, jealousy, and backstabbing. The total opposite of how it should be. It seems as if our family is hexed by a thorn of secrets.
B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old. She is grateful to have accomplished this dream. B. Truly has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of suspense and sci-fi. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, sci-fi, dystopian, and paranormal genres.
B. Truly likes to explore conflicted plots of romance with thrilling twists. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.
B. Truly has three wonderful children, and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.
