Title: My Sweet Enemy Author: Jenny Hartwell Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
The only thing tempering their insta-hate is delicious attraction.
Sunny chocolatier Charlotte Beecher is unemployed, in student debt, and on the verge of hawking her beloved copper pots just to make ends meet. So when a gourmet chocolate factory chooses her as one of five candidates to help re-launch the company in their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired competition, Charlotte begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Fellow contestant Luke Wells complicates her plans to win by a landslide with his flow charts and marketing projections. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Haughty is all about the bottom line and is as bitter as she is sweet. And when he snubs Charlotte in the first challenge, misunderstanding or not, she transforms from cream puff to jawbreaker. Bring. It. On.
But when these two rivals find themselves distracted by delicious attraction, will they let their passion get in the way of winning the competition?
The soft click of the key card in the front door sounded. Luke straightened from the island as the door opened. The soft glow from the undercabinet lights illuminated Charlotte, frozen in the doorway as she stared at him with wide eyes.
She wore high heels, tight jeans, and a fitted jacket over a low-cut top. She was, in a word, gorgeous.
Luke forced himself to blink.
“Um, hi,” she finally said, pulling her key card out of the lock without taking her eyes off him.
“Hello.” He kept his feet rooted to the spot.
Charlotte slowly walked into the kitchen area. Her unblinking gaze roamed over his bare chest and abdomen.
Luke’s skin felt hot, as if her stare was actually touching him.
“Did you have a good day?” he asked, trying to sound normal. Normal? Ha. He could barely manage normal on a typical day, let alone late at night when he was half-naked and the woman who’d caught his attention was looking delicious enough to eat.
She walked closer, her eyes still roaming across him. She was like a surveyor, mapping the contours and terrain of his muscles and sinews and flesh with precision. With focus. With intensity.
“I had a pretty relaxing day myself,” he said, filling the silence as he fidgeted with his ice-cream spoon.
She set her purse on the counter next to his bowl and stepped closer. Now only a foot separated them.
She was so short that he could see straight down the low-cut neckline of her shirt. He tried to look away. After all, he wasn’t a perv trying to sneak a peek, but his gaze returned to the tempting curves and shadows of her cleavage nonetheless.
Willpower, thy name is enemy.
Charlotte finally looked up at him. Her eyes seemed to glow in the soft, muted light.
“Charlotte, I just wanted to say again how sor—”
She covered his mouth with her fingers and shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
He spoke against the light pressure of her touch. “But— ”
She arched an eyebrow.
He stopped.
Her lips tipped up at the corner as she scanned him once more. She seemed to relish the sight of his bare feet and plaid pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips, as well as the half-eaten bowl of ice cream on the island counter beside him.
She kept one hand on his mouth, and with the other, she plucked the spoon out of his nerveless fingers. Scooping up a small mound of ice cream, she slid the spoon between her lips and slowly pulled it out. Her tongue darted to her lower lip to capture a drop of the melted dessert. Charlotte closed her eyes and hummed as she swallowed the bite.
“I’ve been thinking.” She set the spoon back into the bowl on the counter with a clink and took a half step closer.
The air between them grew hot. Or there wasn’t enough air. Or something else involving air was happening because Luke’s lungs suddenly felt like they needed more oxygen than was available.
He opened his mouth to question her, but she traced her fingertips lightly over his bottom lip. Luke forgot what he’d meant to say. He forgot the year, his name, and even how words worked.
“Luke,” Charlotte whispered. Her face was luminous. Her scent, vanilla and flowers and a hint of chocolate, teased his nose. Her lips were pink and gorgeous and inviting.
He nodded, and her fingers dragged across his mouth with the slight movement. He wanted to close his eyes and take her finger into his mouth and swirl his tongue around it and groan, but he did none of those things. Yesterday, he’d hurt her. He needed to treat her with respect. He needed to tread lightly. He needed to—
Jenny Hartwell has a confession-she loves People magazine as much as Pride and Prejudice. Her fun, pop culture adoring side shines in her contemporary rom-com novels set in a gourmet chocolate factory while Jenny’s Regency romances feature strong damsels and swoony lords. Her writing has won or finaled in numerous contests including the Golden Heart, The Emily, Four Seasons, Fool for Love, and The Catherine. Jenny lives with her family in the verdant Pacific Northwest. She loves movies, travel, and staying up late with a good book. And, of course, chocolate. Jenny is represented by Lesley Sabga of The Seymour Agency.
…risk it all? Midwife Quinn Davis and Dr. Milo Russell have been friends forever. So why is it now that they’re working together things have become…awkward? Quinn can’t get Milo out of her mind—and when they share an explosive kiss, she’s left questioning everything! Free-spirited Quinn never planned on settling down…and Milo has a life plan of his own. Are they ready to think about a new life—together?
From Harlequin Medical: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.
“IT’S A GOOD THING you kept your town house in Oceanside,” Quinn said, leaning against Milo’s shoulder as he put the key in the lock. They smelled of smoke, and it had taken them nearly twice as long as it should have to reach Oceanside. Then Milo had insisted that she let him check the cut on her forehead after they’d gotten Ainsley and her daughter checked into the Clinic and said a brief hello to Milo’s stepdad, Felix.
Now she had six stitches above her eye, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this exhausted. She’d been in tense situations multiple times during her career, though, so Quinn knew from experience that her brain was too wired to let her drift into oblivion.
Her stomach growled—another function the body forgot about during stress.
When had they last eaten?
“Tell me you have food in the fridge!”
“Nope.” Milo swung the door open. “It’s fully furnished, since I rent it out most weekends as a vacation spot. But the rent doesn’t include food. Luckily, it’s not due to be occupied for the rest of the month. Wildfire concern caused my last two renters to back out.”
Her stomach roiled with emptiness, but she ignored it. Focusing on her hunger wouldn’t make food magically appear. “At least I can get a hot shower,” Quinn sighed.
“And our Thai food should be here by the time you’re done. I ordered it while you were saying hi to Felix.”
“You are the best!” Quinn wrapped her arms around his neck without thinking. Today had been hell, even though it had ended well on all fronts. She didn’t care that they were both starving and in desperate need of showers. She just wanted to hold him, to remind herself that they were fine. Her body molded to his as Milo’s strong arms pulled her closer.
Her day’s fears melted as he held her. This was where she wanted to be so badly.Her fingers itched to run through his short hair. To trace her lips along the edge of his jaw and see what happened. Sparks flew across her back as his fingers tightened on her waist.
If she held him any longer… Quinn swallowed. This embrace had already gone on for too long. She needed to stop this before Milo started to think she was crazy.
Her cheeks were warm as she pulled away. “I promise not to steal all the hot water.”
“Wait.” Milo grabbed her hand.
Her body vibrated with need as Milo ran his fingers along the bandage on her forehead. His touch burned as she stared at his lips.
So close,and yet so far away.
“The bandage I put on seems watertight.” Milo’s husky tone raced around her.
“Since you put it on less than an hour ago, I would hope so.”
Was he looking for reasons to touch her?
“Yes, but it’s important the wound doesn’t get wet.” His words were so matter-of-fact.
Of course they were.
He was a good physician and her oldest friend.
But just for a moment, she’d thought he might need to touch her, need to be near her, to hold her, too.
“I should clean up.” Her throat was dry as she pulled away, but Milo didn’t stop her again.
When humans were stressed or escaped catastrophe, they often sought comfort in the arms of another. A reminder that they’d lived to fight another day. She’d seen it happen when she was serving in areas that had been hit by earthquakes and floods. It was standard. But Quinn had never felt the urge to seek out that comfort—until tonight.
Juliette Hyland believes in caffeine, hot drinks and happily ever afters! She lives in Ohio, USA, with her prince charming, who has patiently listened to many rants regarding characters failing to follow the outline. When not working on fun and flirty happily ever afters, Juliette can be found spending time with her beautiful daughters, giant dogs or sewing uneven stitches with her sewing machine.
Title: Stop Me Author: Michelle Jester Series: RUE the DAY #3 Genre: Contemporary Romance
After moving to a new city with her parents, Jeselle Parsons quickly found friends and a life full of money, power, and privilege. Even though her parents weren’t wealthy like the other kids’ parents, Jeselle felt lucky to be welcomed into the circle of friends, until she learned how costly that type of life could be. A life that would cost her everything.
For fifteen years, Jeselle, with the help of her friend Dennis, worked to ensure nothing would stand in the way of her revenge on the people who played a part in ruining her life.
All the years of planning, all the years of working, have all come down to this.
Her enemies will learn that revenge has never been so cold.
Rose entered with confidence. That was always the transition Jeselle loved to see. They start off scared, unsure. However, as they learned and worked, they became more and more assured in themselves. Poised, even.
As Rose walked toward her desk, Jeselle thought of the many girls that she’d helped through the years. Today, she was about to bestow her crowning gift to Rose. Exactly like the others, she was offering something that only Jeselle could offer.
“Good morning,” Rose said as she sat.
Jeselle slid the folder across the desk to Rose. She watched with pure satisfaction as Rose opened the folder. A confused look washed over Rose’s features.
“What, what is this?”
“She has a nice house on the south side of town, participates in all of her children’s school activities, and has been married for a little over two years. However, it’s rumored that her marriage is on very shaky ground, because she has a huge gambling problem.”
“Why…Ms. Parsons, I’m confused. Why do you have this file on Trisha?”
Jeselle stood, “Why else? She’s your frenemy. And any frenemy of yours is a frenemy of mine,” Jeselle waited to watch the moment Rose got it.
Rose stood, carrying the file with her, “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
Jeselle gave up hope that it would finally click with Rose. “Revenge, Rose,” she leaned toward her, “For her misdeeds against you.” Jeselle hadn’t meant to sound so forceful.
Rose’s voice was barely over a whisper, “Why on Earth would I want revenge?”
Jeselle was rocked to her core, she swayed slightly. “Because she hurt you. Horribly.”
Rose’s eyebrows drew together. She walked around the desk to meet with Jeselle. “I think that your heart is in the right place, only…” Rose threw her arms around Jeselle and hugged her, “I don’t need revenge.”
Jeselle stiffened in the embrace.
“Mom always says,” Rose whispered in Jeselle’s ear, “the best revenge is in not needing any.” Rose stepped back and looked at Jeselle, “I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and that has nothing to do with Trisha.”
“Well, that’s good,” Jeselle brushed the front of her suit, sat behind her desk and made herself busy. “Lucky for you, you didn’t lose a parent to anyone.”
“True. But my parents were saved by someone. You.”
“Yes, okay,” Jeselle waved her hand to dismiss Rose.
“You save people, Jeselle. Lots of people. I think revenge is a waste.”
“Is it a waste, Rose, to have revenge because you are trying to save other people from horrible people, hmm? Answer me that.” she replied coldly,
“No. But Trisha isn’t that situation. In my opinion, saving her marriage or her family for her children by helping her get counseling for her gambling problem would save people.” Jeselle sighed deeply, “Go away, and let me go save the world then.”
Michelle Jester lives in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana with her husband, high school sweetheart and retired Master Sergeant. Together they have a son and daughter. She is a hopeless romantic and has been writing poems and stories for as long as she can remember. One of her prize possessions is a bracelet with only a yellow, Rubber Duckie charm on it; which she wears every day to remind her to enjoy the fun and happy things of life!
