One lesson I learned very early in life was to be cheerful, to be agreeable, to do as I was told and ask for nothing, and to never ever complain. Smile Maddie. Be happy Maddie. Don't make trouble and maybe they'll love you. I grew into an adult who took care of others and never expected that those I loved would take care of me in return. I gave and never asked, never expected, never demanded. Smile Maddie. Be happy Maddie. Don't make trouble and you'll find someone that will love you. And then one day, a Dragon walked into my workplace and turned my world upside down with a single wink. Having grown up watching his father treat his men like they were disposable, just meat bags to be fed into the grinder, Dragon was determined to be different when he became president of the Dragon's Inferno MC. He cares about his people. He takes care of them. He was upfront with me, taking care of his MC and those he considered to be his would always be his priority. And I agreed to that, I joined him in that mission, throwing myself into becoming the perfect old lady of the prez. Smile Maddie. Act happy Maddie. Take care of them and maybe they'll love you. Smile Maddie. Be happy Maddie. Don't complain and maybe he'll love you. I told myself I was independent. I was strong. And I didn't need my Dragon to take care of me. And I almost believed it. Almost. But now I'm watching him with her. I'm watching him comfort her. I'm watching him listen to her, support her, reassure her. I'm watching him take time from his day to check in with her. I'm watching him worry about her. I'm watching them become closer right in front of my eyes. I'm seeing every thoughtful gesture he does for her. And me? I'm not happy. I'm not smiling. I'm done being agreeable. Fuck not causing trouble. I'm about to set my Dragon's world on fire. And then I'm walking away. She can have him. For the first time in my life, I'm choosing myself.

He made me his ol' lady. I thought it was because he'd finally seen me as more than my brother's little sister. Until I heard him talking with his ex, I didn't realize he was with me out of guilt, that he'd promised to protect me. So I ran and didn't look back...until I had to go back to find him waiting for me.

To most people, my husband is Viper. VP of the Devil's Rejects MC, hard, uncompromising, and completely committed to the club and his brothers. But the man I fell in love with was simply Roman, a man who called me Sunshine, and treated me like I was his treasure. By the time I realized the club would always come first, I was in too deep. And when his enemies came for me? He wasn't there to protect me because he was busy protecting her. And that I don't know how to forgive. Now I'm building a new life for myself without Roman. He promises he will give up everything to win me back, but promises are cheap and his aren't worth much. When we discover our enemies are still alive and planning to strike out again, however, I might not have any choice but to put my life in the hands of the man who's already let me down once.

I allowed myself to look past my intuition and distrust of a certain someone and their interactions with my fiancé ... I mean ex-fiancé. I chose trust in him over distrust of her at every crossroads his choices created, and now I'm lost. Maybe breaking it down again, piece by piece will help me look at the big picture logically. Maybe then I can feel less illogical pain and find my way back to myself again. A story about a relationship breaking down because of broken boundaries and a breakdown in communication.

At our gender reveal, my husband joked about getting my sister pregnant with a boy. Everybody thought that was hilarious. Except me.

The Odd Ones A group of friends, each with a name that stood out like a whispered secret, each carrying a story both beautiful and heartbreaking. December I was always the good girl-the straight-A student, the responsible teacher, the model citizen. I did everything right, yet I never felt enough. My reflection was my greatest enemy, my weight a constant battle. Compliments meant nothing when I couldn't believe them myself. Then I met Rider. He was my coach, a force of nature wrapped in quiet confidence. His encouragement wasn't just about the gym-it seeped into my bones, into the way I saw myself. He made me feel like I was more than just my insecurities. And then... he made me feel loved. But love came with secrets. Ours had to stay hidden for the sake of his job-or so he said. I accepted it, held onto the stolen moments, the whispered promises. Until one night, I overheard him. And my world crumbled.

A second-chance romance wrapped in magnolias, sweet tea, and redemption beneath the Louisiana sky. Ember make the move with her fiance back to his home town. Both unaware of the struggles they are fixing to face. What would you do if the man you love constantly put you last or better yet made you feel invisible? Cruz is moving back home to take over his dad's construction business. He's ready to prove his worth, but he loses sight of what makes him worthy. This is a grovel novel with other women drama, but no cheating. This ended up being longer than I originally planned. But I hope yall enjoy!

A revised and edited version of this story will be coming to Amazon/KU in February 2026. He was silent. A lifetime of poisonous words faded away when he came into my life, convincing me every single insidious whisper had been a lie. He gave me a glimpse into a world where I could be happy, creating a family of my own-one based on unconditional love and zero expectations. Except maybe one. When the moment comes for him to speak up and defend me, he doesn't say a word, and reality comes crashing down on my head. He's not the man I thought he was, but I'm not the same girl he fell in love with, either. I'm stronger now, and I know I deserve better, so when I walk away, he'll be the one left picking up the pieces. There is no cheating, just a TSTL Hero who should've known better.

The complete book is only available on Kindle and can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS181BKW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2C1BY8TCDSU9G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UYq_PSgfmkivAIc6YRMNNQ.bASV0Mjw-veYDv83E4xEEOQOz5ORQXBkqztBnt-J9BM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+gathered+fragments+of+us&qid=1758560347&s=books&sprefix=the+gathered+fragments+of+us%2Cbooks%2C46&sr=1-1 I will keep some of the early chapters here live, but the conclusion, changes to story line, and additions will only be available to read through Kindle once published. Until then, happy reading! 🥰 Felicity Barrett thought she had everything: a marriage to a man she loved and a beautiful future. But when years of neglect and unspoken grief collide with her husband's devastating mistake, everything begins to crumble. Caden Barrett has always been the fixer-at work, at home, and in his marriage. But some things can't be solved with late-night apologies or expensive gifts. To win back Felicity's trust, he'll have to face his failures, fight for their future, and learn what it truly means to not only love his wife, but to show that love. Together, they must navigate family turmoil, betrayal, and the painful echoes of the past. Through chaos, heartbreak, and unexpected joys, Felicity and Caden discover that love isn't about perfection-it's about persistence, forgiveness, and choosing each other again and again. This is a story of brokenness and healing, of second chances and the quiet work of love. It is a novel that explores modern marriage, blended families, and courage while asking: when everything shatters, can love be rebuilt stronger than before?

I'm married to a cover model/tattoo artist who swore his ex was history. She wasn't, as I was about to discover.