[2026 Watty Awards shortlist] On the surface, Elaine Castillo and Dante Cyril are one and the same. The only children to two billionaire fathers, they are each the heirs to their families' self-made business empires. Elaine is armed with wit, a prestigious education, and the ability to read her enemies like open books. Her only downfall is a dark past that is being used against her in a blackmail-fueled bargain with her father's right hand man. The only way to escape this unwritten contract is to protect her father's business by getting answers out of their largest competitor - who just so happens to be protected by the Italian mafia. Dante lacks interest in ruling his father's kingdom. He thrives on the laid back lifestyle, filled with fast cars and loose women, he has always enjoyed. When his father dies to tragic and suspicious circumstances, Elaine and her father are at the top of his suspect list. Will the two be able to sort out their differences for the sake of their families' billions, or will they find themselves risking it all out of pride? In this grueling dark romance, you can expect to find yourself biting your fingernails, swooning, and sweating all at the same time.

Eva Graham is a guarded, no-nonsense social science major who studies human behavior to understand why people leave-and how to make sure she never lets the wrong ones in. She keeps to herself, avoids drama, and especially avoids campus athletes, whom she considers walking red flags. Cole Grayson is a third-year psychology major, a cocky ice hockey star with a grin that disarms and a fanbase full of puck bunnies. While everyone sees him coasting, Cole's under constant pressure-trying to go pro, balancing school, and keeping up a charming front to hide just how much he's cracking underneath. When Cole starts slipping in class, he's assigned a tutor: Eva. Neither is thrilled. She thinks he's a loud, lazy distraction. He calls her "Teach" just to get under her skin-she responds by calling him "Skates," with just the right amount of disdain. What begins as bickering soon turns into banter... then something softer. The nicknames stick, becoming a quiet thread that ties them together as friends-and maybe more. Cole falls first. Hard. Eva, scared of being hurt and shaped by people who've left before, fights it. Still, she agrees to go to one of his games-just once. But seeing him on the ice, in his world, adored yet somehow still alone, shifts everything. Then the bet surfaces. A stupid, careless thing made before he really knew her-and it threatens to destroy everything they've built. Surrounded by puck bunnies stirring drama, teammates with their own loyalties, and a past Eva isn't ready to share, the fragile trust between them begins to crack. Between jealousy, late-night confessions, and moments where one look says everything, Eva and Cole must decide: is love worth risking it all-even if it started with a bet, a nickname, and everything going wrong?

Two billionaires, one plot of land. Aubrey Rose is on top of the world with her hotel empire, but that success is threatened when her business rival turns out to be her ex-flame Liam Harding-and along with the land, he might just steal her heart too. Standalone in the Billionaire Games Series *** When self-made billionaire Aubrey Rose arrives in the small town of Hunter Bay, it's the first step to steering her hotel business in a new direction. It's perfect, except for one teensy problem: the handsome, charismatic, billionaire heir Liam Harding, who also happens to be her ex-turned-competitor for the land. Aubrey's used to working hard to get things done, but this competition will prove to be the most challenging part of her career yet. She faces an uphill battle not only against a town but also control of her emotions over Liam and their past. She wants to hate, she does hate him...and yet...

After the disturbing secret Ainsley discovers laying beneath Fae, she is forced to navigate a new political sphere that is unlike anything she was ever taught. On opposing ends of Divinia once more, Ainsley and Dorian must tackle the looming threats within their nations and the increasingly likely Faerie-Vampire war as they reunite. With the empress ill and the north growing cold, Ainsley sets out on yet another journey to prevent her empire from tearing itself from within as the feelings between her and her mortal enemy grow infinitely more confusing.

In the Realm of Divinia, there are two kingdoms- that of the faeries, the Sallow Kingdom, and that of the vampires- the Nightingale Dominion. Faeries and vampires have been at war since the beginning of time, and hostility continues to run rampant between the two nations. When Dorian Nightingale, the vampire crown prince, is accused of killing a member of the Sallow royal family, war is imminent. He's forced to accept the help of his mortal enemy, faerie heiress Ainsley Sallow, to prove his innocence and prevent the total damnation of both their worlds.

[2024 WATTYS SHORTLISTED] [18+] In the picturesque lakeside town, the calm waters mask the storm within Juniper Jenkins' heart. Betrayed and broken by her cheating boyfriend, she flees to the sanctuary of her friend's lakeside house, to work remotely for the summer. What she doesn't expect? Running into Wells Hansen-her rival from the Seattle Sun Times-of all people. And of all places, he's running the only coffee shop in town with decent Wi-Fi. She's sworn off men for the summer-pinky-promised no boys-with her two best friends. So there's no way she's breaking that pact. Not after what just happened. But fate doesn't care about pacts, and Juniper keeps bumping into Wells no matter how hard she tries not to. She resents him, and the feeling seems mutual. At least, that's what she believes.

Adan Byrd was forged into a weapon-an assassin bound in chains to the crown. She knows only silence, steel, and obedience. But beneath the scars lies a dangerous secret, one she will kill to protect. Lennox Hollow is a name whispered in fear. Branded a demon lord, cursed and reviled, he is forced into uneasy alliance with the king's deadliest blade. Enemies by design, bound together by a mission where failure is not an option, Adan and Lennox find themselves entangled in more than treachery and blood. Trust is dangerous. Desire is deadly. Yet in the shadows of war, a slow-burning love begins to spark-one that could either save them or doom them both. A war is rising. And the assassin and the demon may be the only ones who can set the world aflame. Content Warning: Torture, Submission, Sexual Content, Blood, Fighting, Broken Bones, Hysterectomy, Murder, Family Loss, Grief, Bombs, Protesting, Attempted Grape, Attempted Sexual Assault, Non-Con Knife Play, Self-Mutilation, Branding, Gladiator Fights ENDS IN HEA

Jasmine and Megan have always been best-friends since childhood. Now that they are older, they are both YouTube sensations who live together. The problem is Megan's annoying as hell twin brother, Jaxon. He's moving back to Florida for a job and needs somewhere to stay for about a month until his lease begins. Reluctantly, Jasmine agrees to allow Megan's twin to stay with them. She tries to be on her best behavior but the longer they live together the more he infuriates her or is the correct word infatuates her? This story will take you on a journey of two unlikely people finding love with one another despite their differences. Along the way there will be some crazy obstacles that must be overcome. ****For those of you who decide to read this story, please vote and comment. This is my first novel and it would be greatly appreciated to receive feedback. Enjoy! 😊***** "There is a thin line between love and hate." - idk *currently going through and editing*

Elena Cortez does whatever she wants to get whatever she wants. With being an international pop-star and daddy's money to support her actions, she bulldozes through life, even if it ruins others. But then she meets Valentino, a wall she can't particularly bulldoze through. As a butterknife brings them together, will Elena be able to bulldoze through Valentino or will Valentino bulldoze through her?

In order to go on holiday with their friends, mortal enemies Kai and Joey make a pact to be civilized with each other for the entire duration of the stay. Joey already thinks this is going to be the hardest thing she's ever had to do in her life...and then she learns that they have to share a room. Standalone in the Just One Kiss series *** When her friends decide to plan a group holiday for the summer, Joey Winters doesn't expect the one person she hates the most to be a part of the plan, and she certainly won't let being around Kai Rutherford affect her rules: never forgive, never forget, and never fall in love. Not only does she have to breathe the same air as him, she's expected to share a room - and a bed - with him too. Determined to make this work, Joey and Kai enter into a pact: they have to be civilized with each other all summer. If they don't, their friends will force them to stay in the creepy cabin included in their rental. Alone. Between passive aggressive compliments, late night arguments, and moments of confusing sincerity, Joey starts to wonder if she's had Kai wrong all along. And, just maybe, her friends will finally find out why she really hates him.