Valentina, a student at Heartfelt University, is assigned to the notoriously rude and cold Professor Montgomery. While the professor's harsh demeanor clashes with Val's quiet and positive nature, their academic sparring soon turns into something deeper. As Val's intelligence and persistence break through Professor Montgomery's icy exterior, a surprising and tender connection begins to bloom. [wlw] [slow burn]

A stranger to her own existence, Kayla moves to a small town with the hope of finding comfort in a fresh start. But as she steps inside the unfamiliar classroom on the first day, standing in front of the class is a mysteriously familiar face, one that rouses memories of a time she believed had gone by. With past baggage catching up in the most intrusive ways, she stumbles upon unexpected comfort of friendship, unconditional love of found family, and a beautiful yet complicated bond between two hesitant souls. "This book was like a warm hug, and I might believe in love again." "I would give everything, especially my soul, to have the opportunity to read this book for the first time again." ────── CW: Substance abuse, harsh language, sexual content, mention of self-harm and suicide. ────── Started in January 2018. Re-published in November 2022. First draft finished in April 2023. ────── Copyright 2018 © Renee Steinberg All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, copied, translated, or republished in any form without the author's permission, except for brief quotations or reviews with proper credit.

"I loved her not for the way she danced with my angels, but for the way the sound of her name could silence my demons." - Christopher Poindexter

Temptation had always been Lily's hamartia... Just starting her final year of high school, never did she expect to plummet so deep and become so sinfully bound to someone so narcotic yet maliciously heavenly as her. Consequences so seemingly inconsequential, it was futile for Lily to ignore the allure of such an elegant woman. After all, how could she defy a connection so transcendent beyond what words can fathom, and something so... 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵. 𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐱 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. [tw: sex, violence, mature themes, drugs, mental health, self-harm, death.]