[ONC 2023 SHORTLISTER] Prompt 63: A rivalry between two coworkers has unforeseen consequences. *** Down on her luck with a string of 12 unfateful heartbreaks following her, twenty-six-year-old Cate Miller, having accepted herself as a 21st Century spinster is satisfied being one of the best editors in a successful publishing startup, Pages Unbound. Her only problem in life? Her coworker Ryle Davis, owner of a gorgeous body and her rival for the managerial position that she has worked her ass off for three years. When an unfortunate incident during one of their fights leads to their boss being hospitalized, Cate and Ryle are placed in a difficult position - either prove in one month that they can move past their hatred and be friends or say bye to the promotion. In order to save her dreams from crushing, Cate accepts Ryle's offer for a new start between them. But soon she finds out that getting to know her rival closely might make her ultimate fear come true - one of her 13th heartbreak. [Previously titled 'Love Rivals']

Ivey Pierce is an explorer, and thanks to her career as a wildlife biologist, she does not stay stationary for long. But when her parents die in a terrible accident, and her childhood home is left vacant for two years, she returns to the tattered memories concealed inside the house on Clifton Bay. Everything is the same: the salty scent, lush scenery, and talkative town. Yet, one thing is new-the man across the bay, whose dock faces hers. Each evening, she watches her new neighbor sit with his dog and a cup of coffee, then disappear during the day. He is the only person who does not know her business, and she knows nothing about him. It is not until she gets hurt and discovers he is Weston Turner, the new Nurse Practitioner in their coastal town. Soon enough, they are swept up in one another's current, trying to stay afloat. ************* Short novel [roughly 55-60k words] Copyright of Anna Steffey All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

*Book 3 in the Regency Series- can be read as a standalone.* Alexandra Whitlock grew up to be a romantic. However, upon her release into society at nineteen, she finds that it isn't all romance and balls. So, when she ventures to London at the ripe age of twenty for her first season, she is determined to not let anyone catch her eye. But, unfortunately, His Grace, Richard Kensington, Duke of Exeter throws a wrench in her plans. A devastatingly handsome, charming rake, she has never met a soul quite like him. When, somehow, she finds herself engaged to him for reasons far from love, she can't help but wonder whether loving him is a possibility.

Lady Cassandra Whitlock, the sister of the wealthy Duke of Somerhall, knows what is expected of young ladies in the ton such as her. She is to marry a wealthy, preferably titled, man and is to have no expectations of his fidelity. She is to remain subservient to him. However, she's never been good at meeting expectations. She is fully prepared to remain a spinster for the rest of her life until, in London, she encounters the Earl of Hawthorne, Christopher Weston, a secluded man but one who challenges all of her beliefs about society. She is instantly drawn to this elusive Lord Hawthorne, but is the farthest from prepared as one can be for an attachment.

Highest Rating: #1 in Historical Fiction. Currently #1 under Historical Romance Lady Ginny Sherman is forced into an arranged marriage to Lord Stephen Knightly when her parents leave her and her sister alone and destitute after they die in a stagecoach accident. Ginny's life is completely flipped upside down. This man is vile and cold and wants nothing to do with her. And neither does his ex-fiancee. What she doesn't know is that Stephen has some dark secrets of his own. His past has torn him apart, and Ginny might be just the girl to mend his broken heart. It's a tale as old as time. Book Cover Copyright- © 2016 by Addietay

This story takes place in England, 1760, some years before lady Georgia sadly married Lord Walter Pearson at the young age of sixteen. Four years later, Lord Pearson tragically lost his life in a duel to his former lover's husband. Now, widowed from a marriage that was far from love lady Georgia was only grateful for having her only daughter, Luella. Thankfully, Georgia's Aunt, Lady Willoughby saves her just in time summoning them both to her country seat. After, three long years of mourning all the while avoiding further scandal, she couldn't help the day when she noticed His Grace, the Duke of Richmond. He has seemed to be assuming residence in his country seat in the large vast lands which happened to lie just adjacent to the Willoughby's. The Duke of Richmond never bothered to visit his country seat which was his vast reality of the wife and children that he didn't have to accompany him. He had closed that part off from himself after being scarred and burned long ago... So when it just so happens that he notices a woman he's quite never seen before, and her sweet little angle daughter seemingly residing on the lands that have always been adjacent to his country seat estate, which he never bothered to reside in, he couldn't help but feel something pulling at his heart. . . All along it was the key to unlock it. Rated: Mature🔥 {#1 in COURTSHIP} {#1 REGENCY-ERA} {#1 REGENCY}

Book 1 | Completed | "Lydia, what if there's a reason I was on the bridge that night?" Two strangers. One cross-country adventure. After an unorthodox meeting on The George Washington Bridge, Sean Williams and Lydia Preston agree to take the road trip of a lifetime. With nothing but the open highway in front of them, they learn everything they can about each other. Come to find out...they couldn't be more different. Sean is a rich software developer who is running from inner demons and a crazy ex-girlfriend. Lydia comes from a tragic past with nothing more than the clothes on her back. When these two misfits embarked on a journey full of laughter, pain, and self-discovery, they realized they were trying to find their places in this world. But What if where they belonged was actually alongside one another?

[Wattys 2021 Shortlisted] In the ancient French perfume capital of Grasse, lives bohemian recluse Cassandra Ducasse, the last remaining member of a legendary family of perfumers. Trapped by her past, Cassandra is unwilling to take up the reins of her family business. When she is forced into an unlikely working partnership with hotshot marketing executive Vince, the two could make the perfect team to create a hit fragrance for global superstar, Imogen. But can they put their differences aside for long enough to see that each holds the key to unlock the other's happiness. Featured by @Beauty, October 2021; @adultfiction, October 2021 Winner: Contemporary Romantics Award by @Contemporarylit 2022 Highest rankings (at different times) #1 in perfume # 1 in France # 1 in Provence # 1 in Riviera # 9 in womensfiction # 3 in familyhistory And for one brief, glorious, but likely flawed moment... #10 in romance.

Stoic college junior, Kelly Rivers, is balancing a string of heartbreaks, a pile of unread manuscripts, five summer courses, and an internship on top. And she's doing quite well--at least that's what she wrote on her résumé. No one tells the truth on those anyway. The truth is that her composure is slowly cracking and her mental health is degrading. Things only get worse when the editor she works for asks her to help sign a deal with promising but eccentric writer, Miles Whitman. Not only does he complicate her job, but he also makes it a point to break through her façade and find out why she has been ignoring her feelings for years. What's a girl gotta do to catch a break? Word Count: 50,000-60,000 words Cover created by @meha-k [Featured on Romance's "Head Over Heels" Reading List] [Featured on Humor's "Isn't it romantically funny?" Reading List] [Featured on NewAdultReads's "Featured Authors" Reading List]

20 year old Ava Winston works in a small bakery. She is kind, sweet and shy. Her parents passed away so she has to take care of her 5 year old adopted brother. 23 years old Carter Nicholson is the richest and biggest billionaire in the world. He is arrogant and rude, he has a younger sister and kind parents as well. When Ava and Carter first cross lines past each other, it wasn't the in most amazing way in fact it was in the most humiliating way possible for either one of them. But do you think they will get along with each other since they'd have to face each other every day? Join their journey of sadness, arrogance and love and find out what will happen!