Perfect appearances, perfect grades, perfect manners. Anything less for Adelina Torres and her family kicks her to the streets until she can keep up with the family name. She never had a life of her own. Always studying, always going to business dinners with her parents, always seen as a failure to her family. Despite her bubbly personality, she has always struggled to make friends. What happens when she meets Aaron Hendrix, the leader of the most powerful mafia in the country? A moment to thank you beautiful readers for giving me these rankings among thousands/hundreds of thousands/millions of other stories with similar tags :) #1 in mafia #1 in protective #1 in abused #1 in sunshine #1 in grumpy #2 in innocent #2 in cold #2 in goodgirl #3 in cute #9 in badboy #42 in family #54 in love

She nodded solemnly. "With my girl charm and my pretty dress. But now I just feel like a hot pile of creamed corn." I dragged a hand over my face. "You need water. And sleep." "I need closure." "Sunshine..." "No," she said, standing straighter and stabbing a finger into my chest. "You don't get to look like that and make me feel feelings and then just go all mysterious and noble and disappear like a sexy hitman Batman." "Sexy hitman Batman?" "I had a lot of wine." "I noticed." ●・○・●・○・● She bakes cookies. He breaks bones. Everyone in the city fears mafia boss Dominic Moretti-everyone except Tessa Bloom, the relentlessly cheerful café owner next door to his front business. She calls him "Mr. Broody," brings him muffins he never asks for, and walks into his office like it's not occupied by a man who could have someone disappeared with a phone call. Dominic doesn't have time for distractions-especially not sweet, sunshine-eyed distractions with flour on their noses. But when Tessa finds herself tangled in the underworld he's spent a lifetime controlling, protecting her becomes more than a duty. It becomes personal. And suddenly, the most dangerous man in the city starts falling for the only woman who isn't afraid of him. ●・○・●・○・● Word count: 23,178 Top Rankings: 10.14.25 - #6 in Mafia

Every morning, Serenity shows up to the office before anyone else - including Ezra Langford, her infamously cold, calculating, and annoyingly attractive boss. She brings him coffee, not because he asks, but because she wants to - always with a handwritten quote on the cup, something cheesy, optimistic, and completely not his style. Or so she thinks. Because while Ezra never says thank you, never even cracks a smile... he's kept every single cup lid with her notes. Hidden in the bottom drawer of his desk, they're the only bright spot in his otherwise grayscale life. But when Serenity's warmth starts to get under his skin - and into his heart - he'll have to decide if he's brave enough to step out of hiding and tell her the truth: She's not just his coffee girl. She's the only reason he still believes in good things. »»-------¤-------«« "So, uh... any regrets on the merger yet?" "Only that Chase ordered shrimp from that place on 8th again." I laugh, too hard and too quickly. "You didn't like it?" "It tastes like regret." I grin. "That's what he said about your budgeting spreadsheet." Ezra's mouth twitches. Not a smile, not really. But close. I should say something professional. Something normal. Instead- "Do you really read them?" I ask softly. He looks up. "The quotes," I clarify, nervous now. "Do you actually read them, or... just collect them?" His eyes hold mine. There's no teasing in them. No cold, hard CEO mask. "I read them," he says. »»-------¤-------«« Word Count: 26, 074

Madison was simply trying to enjoy her night out when she witnessed something horrible. Then, soon sobering up she does what any sane person would do and goes to the police. little does she know the monster was closer than she thought.

For as long as she can remember, 21-year-old Maeby Sinclair has harbored a quiet crush on Julian Gray, her family's charming 38-year-old neighbor. But when she returns home from college for the summer, those innocent feelings turn into something deeper-something undeniably real. As Maeby and Julian's connection intensifies, they find themselves caught between desire and discretion, attempting to keep their romance a secret in their close-knit small town. But in a place where everyone knows everyone's business, secrets rarely stay hidden for long.

[COMPLETED] "One night." I whisper breathlessly as he begins to unbutton my blouse. "That's not going to be enough for me, baby. I need you longer than just one fucking night." He grunts. "Now let me please you." He says while taking his shirt off. Oh. ••• Twenty six year old Leona Goodwin is a stubborn, successful businesswoman, she has no time for men. That is until a hot businessman named Dario, 13 years her senior, lays eyes on her at a business party. Will she give into their instant connection or will her stubbornness push him away? #27 in romance / April 2021 #1 in bwwm / April 2021

Nova knew exactly what she was doing. Every glance, every offhand comment laced with something just shy of inappropriate-she loved pushing him. And Professor Steele? He was ice in a tailored suit. Distant. Disdainful. A master of dismissing her with a single look. But Nova wasn't blind-he may have played the role of the untouchable professor, but there was something in his eyes when she got too close. The line they danced around for weeks-taunting it, toeing it, pretending it didn't matter-shattered beneath the weight of a single moment. It was gentle. It was careful. It was the kind of night that branded itself into her skin. And Nova-the girl who always played it cool-found herself spiraling. Obsession bloomed like a bruise beneath the surface, spreading fast and deep.

𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭. Dr. Volkov, a popular psychologist starts treating a damaged young woman, Leona Winters. The line between patient and lover blurs quickly. But when she uncovers the darkness he's been hiding and tries to walk away, he makes sure she never gets the chance.

Isabella is desperate for her own independence, but her overprotective father stands in the way of her future. When she demands that she attends a University two hundred miles away from her home, her father only has one exception; a bodyguard. Elio is dedicated to his career to honour his late sister, but when he owes a favour to an ex-mafia boss, he takes body-guarding to a completely new level. Isabella is reckless and likes to push her bodyguards limits. Elio has zero patience and a desire to punish his client. When things start to get heated and unexpected feelings get in the way, their forbidden relationship becomes a distraction when Isabella's life is on the line. Elio is desperate to not let down another important woman in his life. But he can't save everyone, including his own bleeding heart. Tropes: - Mafia Romance - Bodyguard - Age-gap (8 years - FMC is 21 and MMC is 29) - Forbidden Love - Brat FMC/Grumpy MMC - Light BDSM (sub/dom vibes) - Size difference (5'4 & 6'6) - University/College Setting - Past Trauma/Healing - ANGST (so much of it)

This is the list of books I enjoyed reading, Hope you'll like it too :) If you have new suggestions, Please feel free to send me a personal message or leave a comment. Enjoy!