Cressa Langtry escaped an abusive home to live on her own terms. Now she’s known as Pandora, the best cat burglar and safecracker on the West Coast. Hounded by bounty hunters, one successful job would go a long way in clearing what she owes.
With an unfortunate twist of fate, Cressa’s debt is turned over to the city’s most notorious and ancient vampire – Devon Trelane. Complete one mission and she can leave the vampire world, and his home, free and clear.
Devon has lived a long life—many of them excommunicated from the Vampire Council. Though still a successful businessman, he can’t forgive the one vampire that cost him his seat on the Council.
Unrest builds between the vampires and shifters, discontent that could be avoided if the Council would see reason. One vampire stokes the fires of division, the one who forced Devon from the Council through lies and deception. The one person who holds the secrets that could return Devon to a seat of power and stop the war that threatens.
Luckily, a thief has fallen into Devon’s lap. A woman with the skills he requires to take down his greatest enemy.
There’s only one hitch—a simple business arrangement is complicated when their dreams collide and engulf them in passion.
“This particular job will put you in the heart of vampire society. High society. You’ll be mingling with the city’s most respected and most dangerous vampires. To fit in, you’ll need to have a particular look with discerning tastes. And you’ll need to eat what vampires eat.”
I sat back, the grease of my breakfast threatening to revolt.
He laughed. “I’m not asking you to drink blood wine. But I do expect you to eat nutritious, organic meals. Besides excellent hearing, we have a unique sense of smell.” He tapped his nose. “We can smell someone’s blood when they get close. We can tell its purity and the contents of their last meal. For example, if I were to meet with you in two hours, I’d know you had garlic and onion in your meal. It wouldn’t stop me from drinking your blood if I had a mind, but that very scent would tell another vampire that you probably don’t belong to anyone. I’m far too old to worry about having to drink very often, so I don’t keep humans in the house. But younger vampires require a drink more frequently. Even those a century old still keep humans close for feeding.” He shrugged. “They don’t need to; they just prefer the old ways.” He shook his head as if he found that disgusting. Perhaps just uncouth. Either way, it made me feel a little better. I shouldn’t have to worry about him sneaking into my room in the middle of the night looking for a sip. I reflexively rubbed my neck.
He glanced down when his phone vibrated. His jaw clenched, and he held his cup so tightly, I thought it would shatter. Not good news. After a couple long minutes, he took a deep breath and turned to me, returning to our conversation as if never reading his message.
“My point is, where we’ll be going, you’ll need to not only act the part but smell the part as well. Otherwise, no one will believe why you’re with me.”
He stood. “I’m afraid I have something to attend to. Anna will start your training this morning. I should be back this evening for our session. A couple of rules for your stay here. You have the freedom of the yard, garden, and anywhere in the house on the first and second floors. The third floor is completely off-limits. Any questions before I leave?”
I had a dozen, but it was obvious I wouldn’t have his full attention. And I preferred trying to get answers from Anna. “Just one.”
He tucked the phone in his pocket then gave me his undivided attention.
“What am I being trained for?”
He gave me a slow perusal, and this time, it was more heated. The desire to squirm returned. Then, he gave me that million-dollar smile. “To be my human lover, of course.”
Kim Allred lives in an old timber town in the Pacific Northwest where she raises alpacas, llamas and an undetermined number of free-range chickens. Just like AJ and Stella, she loves sharing stories while sipping a glass of fine wine or slurping a strong cup of brew.
Her spirit of adventure has taken her on many journeys including a ten-day dogsledding trip in northern Alaska and sleeping under the stars on the savannas of eastern Africa.
Kim is currently working on the next books in the Mórdha Stone Chronicles and Masquerade Club series.
Welcome to Providence, where the Ravage Riders reign.
Edge, the son of the former VP for the Ravage Riders, is a broken, bitter man. He’s lost the only woman he ever loved, locked away in prison for a bar fight that escalated because of his temper. After three years, he’s finally returning home, but things aren’t the same. His father lives in exile, banished for crimes that nearly tore the club apart. Now, an imposter sits on the throne as president, and Edge swears his vengeance.
There’s a war brewing with the Riders’ rival Satan’s Outlaws, and the picturesque, friendly city of Providence is now the center of a bloody turf war. The local police don’t want to see their town corrupted by outlaw bikers, but the feud growing between the two clubs is reaching a boiling point.
Then there’s Rae, the sweet, pretty girl that Edge grew up with and the one person not tainted by his life in the club. Three years of regret and loss kept them separated, and now she’s buried in Witness Protection. Edge is determined to find Rae, even if he has to lie, cheat, steal, or kill to make it happen.
He’ll do anything to keep Rae, his brothers in the club, and the town safe, but the threat they’re under collides with the past. Edge is forced to seek answers about his father’s past sins, but if he isn’t careful, Edge might end up right back behind bars, and that’s something he can’t allow.
Nikki Landis is the International Bestselling & Multi Award-Winning Author of over 50 romance novels in the MC, reverse harem, paranormal, dystopian, and science fiction genres. Her books feature dark alpha heroes, protective shifters, and seductive vampires and the feisty, independent women they love. There’s heart-throbbing action on every page as well as fated mates and soul bonds deep enough to fulfill every desire. She also writes science fiction romance under the pen name Nikki Nova.
Title: Tempting the Baller Author: Jacob Chance Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Being a running back for the Charleston Pirates and a single father doesn’t allow for much free time. But an invite to spend the Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons with friends is an offer too good to refuse.
While there, the opportunity for a no-strings hookup with a stunning brunette presents itself and I jump at the chance. At the end of the weekend Leah will return to Boston and we’ll never see each other again.
Now, with the pre-season about to begin, a shoulder injury has me sidelined. I’m sent to work with the team’s new athletic trainer and come face to face with Leah, my Hamptons hookup—and our chemistry is as explosive as ever.
The no-fraternization clause in our contracts should keep us from acting on our mutual attraction, but the close proximity my rehab requires makes her damn near impossible to resist.
My five-year-old son is my priority and I can’t risk losing my job. No matter what, this baller won’t give in to temptation.
An avid reader as a child, her love for all things written waned into adulthood, the excitement of real life things taking over. But when her life slowed down as she finished her office job for maternity leave, her husband purchased her an e-reader, and that obsession was rekindled.
Quickly she went from reader to reviewer, and then from reviewer to blogger; street teams and promo tours galore. When she began collating her own book boxes over at Romance Readers Book Box UK and had the opportunity to include her own words and worlds, the characters began talking.
Those cheeky characters quickly found themselves written down on the page, and her first series was in progress.
When she is not coordinating her worlds, you can find her running around after her free-spirited three children, and husband, or tending to the dogs, bearded dragons, and snakes that also reside with them.
A break can be found soaking in a bubble bath or enjoying a glass of wine, often still with a book in her hand.
Title: Hearts on Fire Author: Christina Berry Genre: Contemporary Romance
I never meant to stay. The plan was to fix up the farmhouse, sell it, and leave. Then I met Drew.
I’m a stranger in this place. When a car accident nearly killed me, Mom took me away from my father and this small Texas town. Now, I’m back, and while everyone seems to remember the little girl I used to be, no one knows the woman I’ve become. That’s okay. I’m not here to reconnect or fix what’s broken between my father and me. I’m just here to fix the house I inherited, sell it, and go.
Then I meet Bodhi, the three-legged cat who keeps peeing on my porch. And along comes Bodhi’s dad, Drew, the protective firefighter with rough hands, a smooth smile, and such a dirty mouth.
Drew has a reputation for rescuing strays. Is that what I am, another stray for him to rescue? Or this time, maybe I’ll be the rescuer.
Hearts on Fire is a dual POV, small town, scorching hot, firefighter romance with an HEA. Contains mature language and themes.
“You’ve been busy.” I sound impressed because I am. “Did you get all that wood out of here by yourself?”
She nods, beaming, then adds, “I can handle a little wood on my own.”
Did she just…? Why, yes, I believe she did just open the innuendo door. And here I come to bust through it like the fucking Kool-Aid Man. Oh yeah! “But how are you at handling big wood?”
Her eyes go wide, and she practically spits out a laugh. “You got some big wood around here that needs handling, Drew?”
Oh, Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, it’s game on now. You have no idea the beast you’ve unleashed.
To throw her off balance, I point to the pile of fresh lumber. “Well, there’s this big pile of wood right here.”
She raises a brow, trying to read something into my words. But there’s nothing there. That would be too obvious, and that’s not how I play this game. With my most earnest expression, I suggest, “Let’s get to work. I’ll help you get this wood into place.”
I use the ladder to climb into the attic, crouching where the first beam will go. From here I have an excellent vantage point for watching Chloe bend over to retrieve a piece of big wood. Her ass is a masterpiece, sculpted by the gods and probably lots of squats. I want my hands on it. I want my hands on every part of her, followed by my mouth.
She stands and turns with the board on her shoulder, looking like a total badass. I blink to wipe the nefarious thoughts from my head and focus on the job at hand.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “Do you need to cut these down to size, or are we going to let them run wild?”
“Big wood should run wild, don’t you think?” she says with a wink as she hands one end of the wood up to me. Nice. Chloe wants to play.
I hold my end in place while she moves the ladder and takes her end to the far side of the room, fitting it up over the load-bearing wall. When she grabs her hammer and a nail, I lend her some encouragement in my bedroom voice. “That’s it, Chloe. Right there. Nail that wood.”
“Oh my God!” She laughs so hard she nearly smashes her thumb—whoops.
I wait for her to collect herself and position the nail against the joist again. “Fuck, yes, that‘s the spot.”
Laughing, she shakes her head and focuses on hammering.
“Harder!” I demand. “Faster!”
I can’t help noticing she hits that nail a little harder, moving a little faster. I like how well she takes direction.
“Don’t stop, Chloe. All the way in. Yes. Just like that, nice and tight.”
When the joist is attached, she gives me a grimace and a raised eyebrow. With a wink, I nail my end to the joist that spans the other half of the house. I swing down out of the attic and hang from the joist we just nailed to execute one, two, three chin-ups before I let go. My boots hit the floor with a boom.
“You thirsty?” I ask, my voice low, my question dripping with double meaning.
She climbs down the ladder. “Do you really think that’s all it’ll take to make me thirsty?”
Stepping into her space again, I wait for her to look up at me before I say, “Well, I’m thirsty for something sweet. You got anything to wet my mouth and whet my craving?”
She stares at my mouth and licks her lips. Oh yeah, she’s thirsty all right.
My gloves come off so I can brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “How about some juice?”
Her eyelashes flutter a bit before she furrows her brow. “Huh?” She blinks, clears her throat. “Uh…”
“Orange, apple, grape… I’m not picky. I’ll help myself if you don’t mind.” I walk into her kitchen, light on my feet, acting like I don’t know I’ve just melted her panties.
Chloe
At this rate, I’m going to jump his bones before we get even half these joists up. Good Lord, the man is sex incarnate. Every syllable of what he’s said makes me want to see his dick. I’ll bet it’s pretty. If his self-confidence is any measure, he’s got to be sporting some pretty big wood.
He returns from my kitchen nursing a little glass of OJ and winks at me over the rim. I could laugh, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Inez was right; this guy is trouble. Not red-flag trouble, but definitely yellow.
Christina Berry writes sex-positive, contemporary romance. Her debut novel, Up for Air, won “Sexiest Consent” in the 2021 Good Sex Awards, as well as the 2021 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in Romance – Sizzle, and the 2021 Independent Press Award in Romance.
A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Christina is originally from Oklahoma, and currently resides in Austin, Texas. When not writing, she’s usually helping her husband with their never-ending home remodeling adventure or marathon watching British crime dramas.
I was a different man, once. I was a man with only one woman on my mind – the only woman I wanted to hold in my arms. I was her man. But things change. Life changes you. Choices, mistakes, resentment: they all change you. So do unkept promises. We hurt each other. We loved each other, then hated each other, then missed each other, then grew apart. And then… One day, we found each other again. At the wrong time, in the wrong place. Because the two of us are wrong together – we’re too far apart, too incompatible. We’re the main characters of a story that doesn’t belong to us. But I still keep loving her, even though she hates me. And she keeps hating herself, because she can’t help but love me. And we keep searching for each other, even though we’re destined to lose each other.
I wish I could be a different man, just once. I wish I could be the kind of man who’s ready to give everything for the woman he loves. Someone who was ready to let her go. Because I want her to be happy more than I want her to be mine.
“The first time we came here, you got me drunk.” Luckily, she changes the subject. “It was just one beer. I didn’t think you’d start throwing up all over the grass.” “I snuck out to see you.” “I’d told Andy where to stick it. Classic.” Darcy laughs. “You held my hair back while I was throwing up.” “It was long. I didn’t want it to get dirty.” “Then you kissed me, even though I’d just been sick.” “You were embarrassed, and I didn’t want you to feel like that around me.” Her expression grows serious. “Was that love?” “It was. But so is this.” She doesn’t add anything, but rolls back over to look at the stars. I lie there, watching her. I never really cared about the stars. I brought her here because I loved the fact that they would gossip about us at home and at work, but here, we could run away together. I loved her hair, and the way it fluttered out of the window. I loved her legs, which were always crossed in the passenger seat. I loved the way she looked at me when she thought I was watching the road. And I loved the way she loved me. “You’re not looking at the stars,” she points out. “I’m looking at mine.” She smiles, squeezing my hand. “I think I’m going to miss you, Brian Veldons.” Not as much as I’ll miss you.
A. S. Kelly writes Rom-Com, Romantic Fiction and Family Saga. Avid reader, hopeless romantic, lover of yoga, knitting and home baking. She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar.
As survivors of not only a plane crash, but two other impossible tragedies, we’d more than earned a life of peace. But time and time again, we were shown that fate had no intention of giving that to us.
Remi and I were soulmates. Plain and simple. Our love should have died in the depths of our darkness, but the sun still exists even when it’s not shining.
The secrets of our past threatened to destroy us at every turn, but for Remi, I would never stop fighting for our future.
The world took everything from us.
And we would stop at nothing until we took it all back—forever.
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four hilarious children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys movies that can surprise her with a twist, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine by her side.
An All About the Diamond Romance: Season One includes the first three books in the An All About the Diamond Romance Series: The Sweet Spot, King of Diamonds, and Diamonds in Paradise.
Meet catcher extraordinaire Rick Seno and loyal baseball fan Sherry. What happens when an older woman ends up on a date with her fantasy baseball boyfriend? Download this set now to find out.
USA Today Bestselling Author Naomi Springthorp is a born and raised Southern California girl. She’s a baseball freak who supports her team all season long and blatantly admires the athletes in those pants. Music has always been part of her life and she believes everything has a soundtrack. She loves her two feline fur babies, though they’re not quite sure what to do with her.
She writes Baseball Romance, Romantic Comedies, 90s Throwback, and Contemporary Romance–all with heat and sometimes a little sweet. https://linktr.ee/naomispringthorp
