||WATTY'S SHORTLIST 2023|| [LGBTQ+ New Adult Fiction] When Mia Cunningham leaves her hometown in coastal Maine at 11 years old after her mother's death, her best friend, Leila Sutherland, gifts Mia a seashell "so she can hear the ocean and remember her home." Over a decade later, the two young women are beginning to navigate their post-grad lives. Leila has remained in Maine, afraid to branch out of her comfort zone, and Mia, after spending her college years in New York and unsure of her future, returns to the only place she ever felt home--Kenneburk, Maine. After a fateful meeting between the young women, Leila and Mia slowly begin to rekindle the friendship that had once been long forgotten. Their friendship is immediately tested, however, as Leila begins to develops familiar feelings and Mia, unsure of where she belongs, cannot help but wonder the direction her life is calling her towards. Will their friendship survive these new trials of adulthood, or should it have ended permanently the day that Mia left 12 years prior? Find out in "Can You Hear the Ocean?" (Published: 2021)

I stared at the contract, this was crazy. A fake relationship for money? This couldn't be real. But I thought of mom and Charlie back in Chicago. Where they live even worse than I did. If I took the money, I could send them more money, hell, I could move them out here with me. We could live comfortably for a while. "Where do I sign?" I picked up the pen. Nathan smiled, "on the dotted line, sweetheart." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Claire Edwards is a famous Hollywood actress. She has a 5-year relationship with famous businessman Nathan Carter. They, unfortunately, have to keep their relationship a secret due to Nathan's career and family who don't approve of the relationship. After an unexpected incident, they enlist the help of working girl, Beth James to be Claire's public lover. What starts off as a business relationship turns into something more. Lines are suddenly blurred and unexpected emotions start to surface. Cover done by: HerParamour #1 bisexual - 03/28/21 #69 bisexual - 10/21/21 😉 #1 lbgtlove - 11/06/21 #1 Claire - 01/25/23

[COMPLETE] Peyton King is the popular girl at school. She's known for her cold attitude towards everyone, but despite her cool exterior, guys want her and girls envy her. What people don't know about her is that she's into girls. Peyton hates her high school life and can't wait until she goes away for College. That is until a new girl at school makes Peyton reconsider. #1 lesbianrance 11/22/20 #1 lgbtlove 11/16/21 #1 lesbian 12/16/21 #1 closet 01/04/22 #1 comingoutofthecloset 02/16/23

Dani Lennox has a secret she's been keeping for half of her life. She's in love with her best friend Mia. The only problem is that Mia is straight, or at least that's what Dani thinks. Sometime's she'll catch Mia staring at her adoringly, but best friends do that, right? After Mia comes home after 2 years traveling around the world, Dani can't help it anymore. She wants to tell Mia about her feelings but her world comes crashing down when Mia comes home wearing a huge rock on her finger and a handsome fiance. Can Dani put aside her feelings and help her best friend plan her dream wedding? or will this spiral downwards just like her love life? _____________________________________________________________________________ The chapters are going to be titled just some of the things everyone has probably wished they said to their crush or what they regret not saying :) #1 Dani - 09/22/21 #1 Unrequited love - 10/04/21

At the ripe age of twenty-seven, Nokomis Reed's love life has come to a screeching halt -- which is why when her mother nominates her to be a contestant on a reality TV show, she reluctantly says yes. Nokomis soon finds herself in a strange new world, living in a house with twenty other women, each vying for the attention of the same man. But when it's one of the other contestants, and not the single man who catches her eye, Nokomis is thrown even further from her comfort zone. Smart, sexy, and fun, The Final Rose follows Nokomis as she navigates the Game in search of love. Now complete!

From a very young age, Samantha Poulsen knew she was different from other girls-the unrequited crush on her best friend, Andrea, was just the tip of the iceberg. But when the earth's temperature plummets, and you and your family are just looking to survive, things like finding a girlfriend or being in love become trivial fantasies. Scientists first spotted the asteroid in the year 2004. They named it 99942 Apophis after the deification of darkness. When the asteroid struck the planet, it set off a chain of events that few expected-the first Ice Age in nearly 12,500 years. Now, two years after Apophis's impact, survival is all that matters. But when Sam's family rescues a man and his daughter-a beautiful girl named Nora who reignites those banished, trivial emotions-Sam might be convinced that there's still a place for beauty in this new world.

(Book 4) *complete* The first three: 1, Alberta 2, Willa and 3, Harper It's been three months that Harper and Teddy have been parted by a lie, a deception, and a lot can happen in three months, especially when you're heartbroken. What has Teddy been up to in Turkey? And when the truth of Ethan's deception is revealed, how will these two go about putting those pieces, of themselves, all back together again?! Everyone is back (apart from Ethan) for the next leg of the journey. Therapy, fresh starts, love, loss, laughter, two weddings,and a funeral... plus chuck in a few more babies?! Let's go. Harper and Teddy - End game! *Completed June 2022* *I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR THIS BOOK TO BE COPIED, OR ADAPTED ON THIS PLATFORM, OR ANY OTHER, BY ANYONE ELSE*

(Book 3) *complete* The first being Alberta, the second being Willa. Harper Jameson is nearly finished college, her father has her mission paperwork all sent in and she awaits her calling but something is about to change the trajectory of her life, or someone. One night of poor decisions when she had done everything up to this point perfectly, and it was all undone. One call to Aunty Willa "Will you come and get me... don't tell mama" One look down at the object in her hand a month later as two lines appeared. One old face returned to her life, more permanently, someone that made her heart skip a beat. One guest room turned into a permanent residence... And then finally one ... became two... The journey of you. Harper into adulthood and beyond... Mature content chapters marked with a * Completed June 2022 *I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR THIS BOOK TO BE COPIED, OR ADAPTED ON THIS PLATFORM, OR ANY OTHER, BY ANYONE ELSE*

Fresh out of law school, Sutton is eager to climb the ladder at her new job. But on her first day of work, she comes face to face with an unexpected colleague--her ex-best friend and first love, Ada. Forced to work together, Sutton and Ada must untangle the complicated feelings they've always had for each other--feelings that may lead them back to friendship, or even to something more.

The story of Emma, who believed that her life was said and written, without ups and downs, without new adventures like those that leave you breathless. With a good job, friends, a dreamy boyfriend when suddenly a hurricane arrives to move everything out of place, a hurricane with a woman's name...