Ryan wasn't expecting to end up with the captain of the hockey team as a roommate, and she certainly didn't expect the initial sexual tension between them to blossom into love. ***** In desperate need of a place to stay, Ryan Winters doesn't see an issue with rooming with the captain of the hockey team, Ethan Russell. After all, she's focused on her studies, getting over an ex, and honestly, not that into athletes. Though the more time she spends getting to know her new roommate, the more it becomes apparent that Ethan is the exact type of guy she could fall for. When lines begin to blur and drama from the past threatens to tear them apart, can the two of them find a way to keep both their friendship-and their relationship-from crumbling to pieces? [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by April Alforque

[Billionaire / Fake Relationship] The last thing Livy expects is to fall for Logan, the hot but damaged billionaire who wants to help her pay for her dad's medical bills. The catch: they have to pretend to be married for one year! ***** How far would you go to save the only family you've ever known? Olivia, a lifelong optimist, has just graduated from college and is about to start a new job when she gets the earth-shattering news that her dad is ill. Scared, she drops everything and moves home to be with him. While walking on the beach one day, she runs into the most attractive man she has ever laid eyes on. The chemistry between them is sizzling from the first moment. Turns out, he is rich, successful, and battling the demons of a past relationship that has left him broken. But when he finds out that Livy needs help paying for her dad's medical bills, he jumps to her rescue. The catch: they have to pretend to be happily married for at least one year. Enough time for her to get the trust fund money her grandma left her so that she can pay him back, and enough time for him to change his bad boy reputation. But things get complicated when feelings and a burning desire enter the picture. [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by Holly Thurston

Ava, an innocent small-town girl, gets sucked into the world of underground fighting when she catches the eye of Shawn Michaels, the irresistibly hot reigning champion. ***** Ava McAdams isn't sure what to expect when she moves to Boston for college. Her sheltered upbringing leaves her exposed to a harsher world, and one complicated male in particular -- Shawn Michaels, the tattooed and intimidating underground fighter who is nothing like anyone she has ever met before. But is falling for him worth the risk of knowing she might lose him every time he enters the ring? [word count: 100,000 - 150,000 words] Cover designed by Ren T

When a bachelor-style reality show centered around finding this year's Mrs. Claus comes to Charlie's small town, she is vehemently against the attention it brings, yet in the chaos of it all, somehow finds herself in the running as a contestant... and falling in love. ***** In the weeks before Christmas, Charlie Duncan's small town finds itself the backdrop to the hit new reality show, Finding Mrs. Claus. And to spice up the drama, a handful of locals are thrown into the casting mix, including not only Charlie, but her best friend Ellie as well. While Charlie does everything she can to get tossed off the show (to no avail), and watches skeptically as Ellie truly begins to open up her heart, she can't help but feel a certain spark for the man behind the scenes - the show's producer, Noah Cyrus. Book One of the Anne's Ferry Series

When bubbly Emerson Kachi Smith starts working for the handsome Lucas Hendrix, she quickly discovers there's something hot and untamed behind his cold exterior... ***** When bubbly Emerson Kachi Smith is offered a job as the personal assistant to the cold and handsome Lucas Hendrix, she's left wondering why. After all, she has no credentials to speak of, and working for a paranoid billionaire CEO who's impossible to please is far from easy. But a few weeks into her job, she begins to realize that she can't judge a book by its cover. Left alone to discover the mystery behind Lucas's cold exterior and to tame her uncontrollable desire to comfort him, she learns they have a lot more in common than she ever thought possible. Could their two lonely hearts share the same dream for happiness? [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] Cover designed by April Alforque Former title 'Coffee And Papers'

A fish-out-of-water story about a New York City chef who inherits a ranch, discovers a family he never knew, and finds unexpected love with a fiercely loyal woman. For fans of western romance superstars like Lyla Sage and Elise Silver. New York City chef Jake West had it all, but a few strokes of a pen meant no more marriage. No more restaurant. No more big city lifestyle. Then he receives a call explaining that his long-estranged father, Brett, has died, and he needs to return to the Canadian ranch he left as a child. Jake expects to go, sign more papers, and return to the city and rebuild his future. Instead Jake learns that Brett's left the ranch to him-and only him. Things might have been hot in his restaurant's kitchen, but that's nothing compared to what he faces now: a family he didn't know existed, and a property he doesn't want. Tanner and Brady, his half-brothers, don't want him around. And while his stepmother, Peony, welcomes him, there's Liz, Peony's daughter. She's not a West, but her loyalties lie with the family, not an outsider. However, as Jake settles into the rhythms of the ranch, he wonders if he's finally found something that's been missing in his life-especially as he and Liz grow closer. At first, it's just attraction, but when a sudden kiss ignites a heat in both of them, they can't ignore this raging inferno. Maybe Brett West knew what he was doing when he summoned his eldest son back home-and gave him a chance to change his life forever. This is Book 1 of the West Line Ranch Series. Book 2 - Western Connection and Book 3 - Western Flame, are currently available to read on Wattpad In bookstores January 20th, 2026! Pre-order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790665/western-heat-by-caroline-richardson/9781998341375/ Watty's Shortlist - 2021 Cover designed by Nora Inla

After overcoming a traumatic heartbreak as a teenager, Chloe struggled to grow up and establish her career, but after years of work, her life finally feels like it's back on track. That is, until her ex-boyfriend, Iñigo, shows back up in her life. ***** Five years ago, Chloe Petrakis was badly hurt when her boyfriend, Iñigo Monteiro, broke up with her, and the worst part was that he had no shame doing it on her sixteenth birthday. It was a slap in the face, and took her years to overcome the heartbreak. But that's all behind her now-she's matured into a beautiful young woman, and learned her lesson. That is, until her ex returns. With a new man already in her life, can Chloe keep Iñigo from ruining yet another one of her relationships, or better yet... does she even want to? [[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]] Cover designed by Ashley Santoro

Emily found solace in a small mountain town five years ago, though after running into an amnesiac on the side of the road, her old life makes a resurgence. ***** Emily has been hiding from her past for five years in a remote mountain lodge - until the night she nearly runs over an injured man on the side of the road. North has amnesia, and while he recuperates at the lodge, he and Emily can't seem to ignore the growing chemistry between them. There are just two problems: without his memories, North doesn't know who he really is or what he's left behind. And Emily can't risk leaving her safe haven to face the world she's hiding from once his memories return. Content/Triggering Warning: this story contains scenes of sexual and physical abuse, violence, sexual content, and mentions of suicide and mental health. [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by Lily Taylor

[Small Town / Second Chance] When Jennifer heads back to her hometown after ten years to celebrate her grandmother's 70th birthday, she knows she'll have to face Matthew, once the love of her life. But what both of them don't expect is to have the feelings they had long buried inside to flourish back to life along with walls of resentment, and a sizzling attraction. ***** Jennifer Bloom has completely escaped her small-town past. She's a successful interior designer with great clients and everything she's ever wanted. But when she's called back home to help plan her grandmother's 70th birthday party, she's partnered up with Matthew Hunt - once the love of her life. He's lived in town his whole life, and he's handsome, strong, kind, and the only man who's ever made her heart race. Experiencing life with Matthew again reminds Jennifer of all the things she's missing, even though she's got everything she once wanted. At one point, all those years ago, they thought they'd be spending their lives together, but life threw them a curveball, forcing her to make the decision to leave and never look back. Now, they realize love was never an issue; their problem has always been everything that comes in-between. He'd never move to the city, and Jennifer can't leave the life she's built behind. Walls of resentment still block the way, even though their love for each other still burns strong in their hearts. Can true love bridge the distance between them? Is love ever enough to make a relationship work? Is it finally their second chance?