Rescued from a blind date from hell, a career woman's one night stand with her would be savior has unforeseen consequences. **** Up and coming New York apartment manager, Vanessa Torres' life is going perfectly according to her five year plan. Well, everything except in the love department, but that will come later. On cloud nine from her recent promotion, she agrees to go on a blind date arranged by her friend. Little does she know her squeaky clean life is about to turn upside down, following a one night stand with a handsome stranger, who saves her from the disastrous set-up. Reputable, lease up closer, Gabriel Tate, loves to live life by the game of chance, with no long term plans in mind. Blessed with Adonis-like looks and a charming personality he's used to getting what he wants when he wants until one flip of a coin changes his life forever. Their lives become entangled in a heated competition to fulfill rental contracts for their respective employers, not to mention running in the same social circles within the apartment industry. They soon realize change and compromise are necessary not only within their careers but also life and neither expected to find love during the chaotic and dysfunctional rivalry. Open Novella Contest 2023 Prompts: #5 Flip a coin and make a life choice with it. Two choices, one coin, and no turning back. Do you dare? #25 "If he smiled at you, he'll break your heart. If she winked at you, she'll rip you apart. #39 On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable , but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out. © 2023 LJRae

A jilted, curvy accountant joins a gym on a journey of self-love. The last thing she plans for is to fall for her grumpy trainer. ***** Who needs men, anyway? Certainly not Joanna Lozano. The youngest of five and the only girl, she has learned at a young age the importance of survival in a man's world. It's what drives her to be a successful accountant in the corporate world of Chicago. When her boyfriend of six years unceremoniously dumps her--though her pride is wounded--she accepts the rejection as an opportunity to rediscover herself, starting with a reluctant agreement to join an eight-week fitness boot camp. Sage Kingston is a straightforward gym owner who appreciates and lives by the monotony of his life. His only goals are to provide and care for his young son after his divorce left him jaded. He doesn't have the time or patience to play games that come with dating or relationships. Who needs that headache, anyway? Yet, with a new season of boot camp at his gym underway, he's instantly attracted to the curvy and feisty participant, Joanna. However, his work is cut out for him since she's not easily charmed or swayed by his bulging biceps or six-pack abs. But even Joanna can't deny the mounting tension after each draining and sweaty training session. As they grow to know each other, so does their affection and both must deal with overcoming their hurt pasts and decide if unexpected love is worth the risk. ©2022 LJ Rae

A crime boss struggles to carry out a vendetta after he falls for the spirited daughter of his enemy. ***** Twenty-two years after his parents were killed, Federico Di Maggio returns to New York with a simple plan: take down the man who betrayed his family. What he didn't plan on was Elenora Borelli, the enigmatic and fiery daughter of his enemy. Reeling from recent heartbreak, Elenora will stop at nothing to find her happiness. But when she finds herself pressured into an engagement with the dark and mysterious Federico, happiness may be the least of her problems. Hellbent on sabotaging the arrangement, Elenora defies Federico in ways no one else would ever dare. Too bad Federico's never been one to back down from a challenge. Especially one that calls to him in the most feral and passionate of ways. With unforeseen betrayals and new rivals, perhaps the real challenge Federico must face is deciding whether to fight his feelings for Elenora or give into them. But even if he chooses to end his long-standing vendetta against her father for mounting sparks between them, there's no guarantee she'll risk her heart on him. *Content Advisory: This story contains coarse language, scenes with violence and mature sexual content. (Word Count : 101,000-111,000) #1 Italian #1 Possessive #46 Family secrets #95 Passion ©2022 LJ RAE

(Book 2-Sequel to Found In Darkness) A crime boss' true identity threatens his new found love with the daughter of his enemy. **** Federico Di Maggio finds love in a place he never expects and now that he has it, he will stop at nothing to keep the daughter of his enemy, Elenora Borelli safe. But Elenora is no wallflower, knowing first hand the realities of life's harsh truths and is relentless in fighting for her happiness and the love she has with Rico. Their relationship is tested when his true identity is revealed, betrayals are made and secrets are exposed. Blood is thicker than water, but is their love thicker than blood? Content Advisory: Contains adult themes, violence and explicit sexual content. #1 in Contemporary Love © LJ Rae 2022

[Book 1] Stella and her father had no choice but to move in with her Uncle Timo, in New York, in refuge, after witnessing her mom's murder, as a child. She feels a connection to her Uncle, but his responsibilities as the leader for one of the largest Mafia families, in the East coast, keep him distant. Years later, Stella, is desperate to escape the life she never wanted to take part in. But soon her life takes a turn for the worst when her world is once again turned upside down. In the midst of her sorrow, guilt and pain, she finds herself conflicted with growing affection, towards her best friend, JP. JP has only ever wanted Stella to be happy, even if it means not being in her life. But he's carrying secrets he knows will shatter her. JP's overbearing father, feeds into his already growing uneasiness, with not knowing how he will fit into Stella's life, as his responsibilities as a soldier in her Uncle's family continue to grow. Secrets will be exposed, and betrayals will be made. **Book 1 of For The Empire Series** Content Advisory: Mature themes, course language, violence, explicit sexual content © 2020 LJRae Highest Rank: #1 Mafia Stories 7/3/2021 #4 in Deception 5/29/2022 #12 in Sadlovestory 5/29/2022

[Book 2] You can't escape the mafia. Stella's world has fallen apart more than once. Even so, she tries to hold on to the shattered pieces of her humanity as she navigates in uncharted territory after she was betrayed by the very same people she has loved and thought of as family. She quickly realizes the more she tries to resist the world that she despises, the more she is pulled in. Can she outrun her past or will she resign and make her own path in a brutal and ruthless world? ⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤ Love hurts. Regret hurts far worse. Regret for things not said, things not done. But what about regret for things that were done? Regret for things that were said and not meant? John Paul has always known he was meant to become a part of the Family he's been raised and trained in, his entire life. But he was ready to walk away from it all, for love. Fueled by insecurities his own father fed into, he made a choice, a choice that changed everything. In the aftermath of betrayal and choices that have impacted not only their lives, but of those around them, both Stella and John Paul find themselves fighting to survive and overcome their own demons. Can love overcome the things that were said and done? Or will love be another casualty in the dark and unforgiving world of the mafia? ***This is not a stand alone read*** Sequel to For The Empire - Il Inganno -Book 1 Highest Rankings: #5 in Mafia Stories 7/23/2022 #41 in Deception 7/23/2022 #18 in Assasin 7/23/2022 © 2021 LJRae

[Book 3] My lips are a whisper away from meeting hers. The anticipation, of tasting her addictive flavor again, is overwhelming. "There's someone else." The words send an electric current through me, jolting me out of my lust filled moment. Her hauntingly, beautiful eyes, fill with tears as they stare back at me. "I thought you were dead, JP." A lone tear streaks down her face. I turn away, heading for the door, my desire and lust is now consumed by raging anger, coursing through my veins. But as I look back at her, I realize I don't care. "He better be ready for a fight. There's no way in hell, I'm giving you up easily." --------- They say, "All's Fair in Love and War" but is it really? Stella and JP are driven apart repeatedly. Whether from their own choices and mistakes, or from the meddling and interfering of others, yet they always find themselves being pulled back to each other one way or another. After years apart, they're once again brought together, whether by fate or something else and they struggle with overcoming old fears, doubts and desire. They're faced confronting old enemies as well as new ones, while taking on the challenge of raising a family that was left in their care. Will they finally come together and become the undeniable and powerful Mafia King and Queen they were destined to be? United in purpose and love. Or will they walk away from it all, including each other? **Book 3**Final book in For The Empire Series (Not a stand alone) ***CONTAINS MATURE THEMES, SEXUAL CONTENT, LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE*** Highest Rankings: #2 in Mafia Stories 7/23/2022 #89 in Mafialove 7/23/2022 © 2021 LJ RAE