~ 2021 WATTY'S SHORTLIST ~ "I-well, I..." I hesitated with my response. I wanted to let go. To not worry about what would happen in the future. I'd always loved staring into fires. It hypnotized me with its beauty and danger. It was so tantalizing to look at, but one little touch could destroy. I knew the heat between Tyler and I was similar. It started off small but it had only grown in the weeks he'd been here. We'd fed it unintentionally, and it had gone from an ember to a crackling flame. Every nerve in my body wanted to reach out and touch it, even though I knew I'd get burned. *************************************************** Pia Callahan always lived a carefree life with no worries. Her only responsibilities were to attend her college classes (sometimes) and keep herself fed (on ramen). When tragedy strikes, Pia is all of the sudden thrown into a whirlwind of change. She has to grow up and take on more responsibility than she could ever imagine: the custody of her best friend's son. Pia may not believe she is the best person for the job, but she is determined to do it. She'll trade in frat parties for PTA meetings and beer-bongs for apple juice. But what happens when the ruggedly hot motocross athlete Tyler Westwood shows up in her small town? Tyler lives on the fast track, never caring too much about consequences. You can't when your job is to do backflips through the air. Sometimes, you just have to send it and hope for the best. From the second Tyler meets Pia, he knows he wants her. But she is determined to ignore their bubbling chemistry. She has priorities now and a summer fling isn't one of them. Will Pia be able to stay away from Tyler? Or will she decide to hit the throttle? ***************************************************

"You're tense," he murmured, brushing his lips along my jaw. "Don't be. I love this-" his palm smoothed over the curve of my waist, holding me firmer, "-all of you." I wanted to argue, to shrink back from the heat pooling low in my stomach, but then he kissed me again, deeper, silencing the doubt before it could rise. "Do you want me to show you slowly..." his voice was low, steady, hot against my ear, "...or do you want to tell me first?" My heart hammered. "Show me." The smile that curved his lips against my neck was sinful, but the way his hand began to move-slow, deliberate-was reverent. - A man hard as stone falls in love with his teenage daughter's nanny, who is a ray of sunshine. What happens when she makes this man fold?

Ava Sinclair is desperate. Her father's rare illness is bankrupting her, and time is running out. In a last-ditch move, she joins Velvet Circle-an elite underground agency where powerful men pay fortunes for one night of total control. Xavier Blackwood doesn't do love. He's a billionaire who treats women like transactions: hot, hard, gone by morning. No strings. No repeats. Until Ava steps into his world. One contract. Fifty thousand dollars every time he calls. No feelings. No questions. Just her body on demand. But obsession creeps in fast. His hands can't get enough of her curves. Her moans start sounding like surrender. And the money can't drown out the truth they're both avoiding: What happens when "just sex" becomes something neither can walk away from? A raw, steamy, addictive billionaire romance packed with dominance, possession, and heat that burns everything down.

𝐧𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞 (𝐧.) ~ that which chases sorrow away. ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ It wasn't easy for the mafia boss, Leonardo Romano to reach the highly respected position of a Don; the sacrifices made were irreversible. Beneath the facade of his emotionless mask, hid a broken, vulnerable boy who was slowly losing the will to live. With a stalker on the loose abducting young ballerinas and the power of her company slipping away, the ballet industry's star, Maria Amante, had no choice but to return to her childhood love, who she was separated from years before. Through a fake engagement, the two navigate through their childhood trauma, adverse experiences and most importantly, their dysfunctional relationship that had been destroyed in the past. But with hidden secrets and unrevealed realities, there seems to be more than what they think they knew about each other, the world and themselves. ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘ *Important Note Inside* Romano Brothers - Book I Featured on Wattpad's Romance Profile Reading List: Fake and Arranged Relations - 08/24.

A preacher's daughter and a lonely biker make a secret arrangement that might break their little town into chaos. CELIA is fierce and independent, wishing to escape her judgmental town. Behind her striking and cold appearance, hides a vulnerable girl who feels betrayed and alone. She lives according to her own rules and counts the days until she saves enough to run and never return. GIO is new to her town and needs a babysitter for his daughter. Behind his rugged and intimidating appearance, hides a protective man who's looking for a fresh start. He's got strong principles and will take every selfless risk to ensure that those close to him are taken care of. She's looking for an escape, he's trying to settle down. She's got temper, he needs to stay calm. Two outcasts need each other to reach their goals, but what happens when feelings get in the way? "This is by far my favorite book. And this will forever have a special place in my heart." -CydneeBrockett "This story was something else. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and it made me happy. It was amazing watching the character development and the beautiful plot being put into this." - alibbg "This story put me through the ringer. And the ending was perfect. I love everything about it." - YelenaLugin "Absolutely loved this book with my entire being. I'm happy that neither character was perfect and they showed how relationships are different." - Bihhyhutriedit

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝟏 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ─────୨ৎ───── 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎 feels invisible. As the daughter of the Royal Academy's football coach, everyone assumes they know her, but no one truly does. Beneath her fake exterior lies a girl drowning in secrets, desperate for someone to see past the facade. Then 𝐀𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐍 '𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄' 𝐎'𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐑 the academy's new star footballer, steps into her life and starts to notice the cracks in her armour. Connie has his own struggles. With a father who's relentlessly pushing him to become a football star, he's constantly fighting to meet expectations he isn't sure he can fulfill. The last thing he expects and needs is to find himself distracted and drawn to a certain curly haired blonde. ─────୨ৎ───── When I park in front of her house, I speak up before she can say goodbye. "I know you're going through something." The words come out rougher than I intend. "You try to hide it, but I see right through you, Carmen Castro." "Aaron..." Her eyes drop to her hands, her fingers twisting together. "You don't have to tell me anything. But I need you to know that I'm here for you. Whenever you need me. Okay? You can text me, call me, whatever. I'll drop everything." Her eyes flicker up to meet mine. She looks... scared. Not of me. But of something else. "Please?" I add, my voice breaking. I was never one to beg but ever since meeting Carmen, I've been a fucking beggar. She swallows hard and nods her head slowly. "Okay." Then, gives me a weak smile before slipping out of the car. [ 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ] #1 mental health #1 addiction #1 awareness #1 academy #1 teen love #1 drugs #1 football #1 sad #1 rehab #2 healing #3 sportsromance

(Part 2 of BlackHeart) The continuation of Mia and Domani's story after Dom walks out on her in Paris, unable to wait. Will the two find their way back to each other or is the damage done for good? (This storyline touches on trauma cycles and PTSD. It's not just a toxic story for toxic's sake. Over the series these matters will be addressed. As in real life, things get worse before they get better. Fair warning)

Mia Fiore has been running from dangerous men for half her life. Now that she's focused on a fashion career and finally reuniting with her brother, is meeting her brother's best friend going to put Mia right back in the hands of yet another dangerous man? The most dangerous yet. Even with a past like hers she knows Domani De Luca is...a shade darker. Dom knows his best friend's little sister is off limits. And yet.... -Dark Romance- (Stand alone in the: A Shade Darker series)

BOOK 2- This is the continuation of Renzo and Kat's story, with added BONUS chapters from characters like Dante, etc. If you HAVEN'T read the Original 'Slow burn' then please hop onto my page and start there :) -(A Shade Darker series)

When a sweet innocent Kat finds herself crossing paths with the dark and dangerous Renzo of the Boston mob she has no idea who she let into her life when she accepted help from the handsome man. Read this, and let the slow burn unravel. -Dark Romance- (Stand alone in: A Shade Darker series)