2021 Watty's Shortlist! *Mostly edited* T/W: physical abuse "Why did you sign me up for Tinder?" I roll my eyes, "Why else do you think? To get you a girlfriend." "Pretty sure I told you I didn't want one." He retorts and I shake my head quickly. "No, I told you I was going to find you a girlfriend and you said 'sure, whatever you want.' So technically you didn't say no." Alondra Brown has one rule for herself. No messing around with her father's hockey players. However, after a night of getting out of her comfort zone and an instant attraction with a guy in a bar, she finds herself entangled in a lie with none other than Jack Schultz, her father's star hockey player. Avoiding him isn't an option because he actually does need her help, but helping Jack goes against her rule. She shouldn't worry about anything happening with Jack because he's a notorious playboy who doesn't believe in love. Not to mention he also plays hockey. But she isn't immune to his charm. The heart wants what it wants, no matter how much you try to deny it. highest ranking: #41 out of 2.2 million in love

⎨COMPLETED⎬ Brooklynn Taylor. A girl with high hopes and big dreams to become the next big actress. Everything she's ever known has been carefree and perfect from an outsider's perspective. Perfect social life, perfect grades, perfect family until one appointment changes her entire family dynamic. Avoiding the issue is what Brooklynn wants to do, but some things are unavoidable. She did not know something in her life could've possibly been missing until she is paired up with the infamous playboy and star soccer player, Aidan Brown, for a school project. Not only does he bring something new to her life, but he also helps her tackle the issue she has been dodging for so long. Soccer. Occasional hookups. And because of his mother's wishes, getting into a high-profile law school. That is what Aidan Brown's life revolves around. His one true love has always been and always will be soccer, but when his mother destroys any hope of him following his dream of becoming USL's next big soccer superstar to carry on her legacy, Aidan is stuck on what to do. Something-more like someone-stumbles into his life unexpectedly, he realises he should chase after what he wants. In all aspects of life. [ DUAL POV ]

Lennon Levine has sworn off athletes for the rest of her life. With a lifetime of baggage she has made a promise to never date men who only wants her for her father. Sleeping with the hockey player with the worst reputation was not a part of her plan.. especially when there's more depth to him than he shows the world. Greyson Carter is set for the Boston Bruins after he graduates, but his reputation in hockey is far from stellar. Sure, he is one of the best players of his generation, but he has a short temper and a tendency to hold grudges. When newly retired NHL-superstar Christopher Levine wants to be his agent, he has to clean up his act. Sleeping with said agents daughter wasn't the best move. But what if he wants more? //March 2025, thank you endlessly for 100k 🙏😭🤍//

We've always been told to think before we speak, so as not to offend anyone. Maddie Hayes is over it. No matter what is said, someone is going to get offended. She just doesn't care anymore. For someone who grew up with five older siblings, Maddie has never felt more alone. Now that they're all out of the house and starting their own families, that loneliness has manifested into anger at the feeling of being abandoned. Madeline was never supposed to be the 'good girl'. From the years of sarcasm, she's learned from watching her older siblings, Maddie is 'that girl,' the girl that everyone envies, who can make you cry with just a look. But maybe her life isn't so great as she wants everyone to believe. Maybe she's tired of being forgotten by her older siblings; maybe she's angry because her parents work too much or that her friends would never actually be there for her if things got tough. Maybe she's just sick of all the bullshit.

[Completed Book One]After a failed suicide attempt, the death of her parents the same day, and the loss of her favourite person in the world, Lyra Williams never expected to walk through the front doors of Mount View High the first day of her senior year. As the bullying seems to grow worse, her coworkers girlfriend befriends her, brining her into their friend group. River Evers, the only one not happy with the new member in his friend group, despises Lyra and will do anything to end her friendship with his friends. As his dark secret and past weighs on him, he becomes more and more persistent to get her away from his life. With exams and a month long Christmas vacation, they're forced to spend more time than they'd like together. Before they start to realize they aren't so different from each other once their secrets unravel. (18+) ___ Warning: This book contains sh, sa, abuse, violence, bullying, sexual content and language. The warning is there for a reason, only read if you're comforting reading the book. Male main character is not likeable at first and is a slow burn Editing and rewrites in the works By Desire (Book Two) out now #1 in Enemies with Benefits #1 in Popular Boy #2 in Forced Proximity #1 of the top 10 in Canada 2/06/24

Perrie Lancaster has zero plans after college. No dream job she's working toward, no one to impress, and no care for anything other than making her last two years of college one big party. Levi Saints wants nothing more than to follow his dream of the Olympics. He's the swim team captain, spends most of his time submerged in water, and doesn't venture out into the unknown. Perrie is the unknown. Coming from a mildly depressing childhood, Perrie isn't shy about her distaste toward athletes. After an unfortunate disaster of a 'meet-cute', Levi makes it his mission to show her that not all athletes are soulless jocks with nothing better to do than think they're better than everyone like she's been led to believe for so long. Perrie isn't giving in so easily, but one thing she didn't count on, is how competitive Levi Saints can be.

FREE STORY. PAID BONUS CHAPTERS. There's a thin line between love and hate. One thing Rosalie Jackson knows for sure is that what she feels towards star college hockey player Roman King is definitely hate and that feeling is mutual. Having hated each other ever since they met in freshman year under not-so-great circumstances, nothing has changed two years on. What they see as hate everyone else sees as sexual tension, and there are only so many insults they can throw at each other before that tension is released. Their feud continues through junior year and as much as they would love to avoid each other at all costs, they keep getting thrown together under the worst circumstances possible. As their rivalry heats up, so do their consequences. Stuck with each other for a full year, they'll find themselves spending more and more time together than ever before. Hockey games, temptation, and science experiments will go wrong. At the end of it all, maybe, just maybe, they'll become each other's perfect obsession. [The Jackson Family Series Book 2 - can be read as standalone]

Practice makes perfect, and when you're fighting to be the best in your sport that is especially true. Ryder and Francesca are no exception. They are dedicated to their sport and refuse to let anything distracted. But when a scheduling conflict forces the two to share the ice, staying focused becomes just a little harder. TW// mentions to abuse & scenes of verbal abuse

Ivy knows it's time to return to her childhood seaside town to battle the demons of her past. Two years away from her friends, family and the beloved sandy beach that holds such a special place in her heart. She knows the visit will be painful but she's ready to find her closure. With wishes to build new memories to mask the old ones, nothing can tear her down anymore. When Ivy pulls up outside the house she grew up in, she's reunited with her older brother, not long before he drops the bomb that his best friend from university will be staying with them for the summer. His friend, JJ, who Ivy soon remembers she had a steamy one-night stand with less than a week ago. It was a night of sambuca shots, laughter and lots of... pleasure. Ivy knows one thing for sure-despite her utter shock and concern for the situation-her brother can never find out. Not if they both want to keep their sanity. But will their attraction for each other get them into trouble? It might be worth the risk. 18+

When Calliope Sweeney's boyfriend cheats on her the very same day she graduates from culinary school she decides to for once think of herself. To finally take an impulsive step and leave her hometown she'd been attached to since she was 11 years old. To start her life somewhere else, to live away from all the men who'd cheated on her in the past, to find herself and live out her dream life. She vows to focus on her own self growth and her new bakery the second she steps foot in Miami to live with her wealthy older brother. Although she doesn't expect a brooding jerk, Emrhys Blackburn, to enter her life when she gets there. He was her antithesis, a curt and aloof yet undeniably attractive man who somehow makes the fake smile she always plasters on real. She doesn't expect Rhys to make her feel a way she'd never felt with any other man before, to make her want something she should not want. But there were two problems. Number one is Calliope doesn't want to open her heart up that way again, even if it does mean she might have a chance at true love. Number two is Emrhys Blackburn is her brother's best friend. *** #1 in forcedproximity #1 in opposite #1 in bakery #1 in secretdating #1 in bestfriendssister #1 in brooding #1 in grumpyxsunshine #1 in groveling #1 in jealous #1 in cute