(Book 2 of the Mafia standalone series) "Matteo-" The word dies in my throat as he reaches across the console, one arm wrapping around my waist, and before I can process what's happening, he lifts me effortlessly and pulls me onto his lap. My breath catches and I stare at him, stunned. His face is inches from mine. Close enough that I can see the faint scar near his eyebrow. Close enough to feel the heat of him through the thin fabric of his shirt. "Matteo-" I start again, but it comes out softer this time. He kisses me. It's not gentle, it's not hesitant.... it's desperate. I freeze for half a second, my mind blanking completely and then something inside me snaps. I kiss him back harder, aggressive in a way that surprises even me. His lips are rough on mine, aggressive and insistent. He kisses me like he's starving for it. My hands fist in his shirt, anchoring myself to him as he devours my mouth. His tongue slides against mine and I moan into him. The sound is swallowed by his kiss, muffled by his lips.

Four intertwined twenty-something are figuring their messy, chaotic college life. Taylor Arden, on her last year of college, with a senior project looming over her. Trouble is, she's a Communication major, so when the owner of a coffee shop she used to work at, offers to do their social media handle-with no other option last minute-she can't help but cave in. Trouble is, someone she has history with, the guy she ghosted and gave fake number to during freshman year, is working there. Cup after cup of coffee, ton of library trips, and underground actors at the local production house by her best friend's girlfriend-all of which a temporary distraction for the actual thing that's going to make or break her entire college career. Will she move past the fling that's Aiden Samuels and graduate with honors or will the matters of the heart come stumbling back into her life?

L A N I Generous. Kind. Ray of sunshine. Lani always got what she wanted. Ethically, of course. Yet, the one man she craves refuses to turn his head towards her. Unkempt feelings for him grow day by day, and his being her brother's best friend is the roadblock she isn't strong enough to lift. But if he sees her with another man, will things spiral in the direction she wants? C A L L U M Blunt. Observant. Grumpy. Callum's only goal really is to become captain of the Chicago Eagles hockey team. The concept of love is foreign to him, and yet he feels compelled to accept the deal Lani imposes, seeing that his reputation will skyrocket once the relationship leaves their inner circle. But is this truly what he wants? Of course it is; love is trivial and has no space for someone like him. Ever. After an accident forces girl group singer Lani Warren on a year-long hiatus, she finds it the perfect time to admit to her childhood friend how she feels before her group's comeback. The idea seems great in theory, but what she doesn't foresee is the imposing appearance of the man her brother hates, Callum Livernois. They don't know each other and don't want to get to know each other. But striking a mutually beneficial deal requiring them to fake date doesn't sound all that bad after brief deliberation. Nothing will happen, and they won't ever be each other's catalyst in romance. Right? ©girlwounds

After the death of her father, Harper Dawson and her mother moves to Willow Brook where she ends up living next door to the grumpy captain of the football team. He hides in his own grief and she hides in hers. From cute banter to walks in the park to feelings they can't control, they find peace in the other...and maybe love.

They were just friends. That was the plan. But when two broken people start seeing the cracks in each other...it stops being just friendship Loving him might ruin her. Loving her might save him And it all started because she liked the boy.

ONGOING Riley Stevens has no one. No friends, no one to care for her. Then she meets him. Kai Brooks. He's cute, funny, smart and most of all, seems to care about her a bit too much. When Riley finds out how life can truly be when you have people who love you, she feels unstoppable. But living in this world comes with too many struggles to count. Can she make it out alive? Will she be able to live the life she's always wanted? Will Kai be able to see her for her? TRIGGER WARNINGS: self harm, eating disorders, death, su!cide, drugs, underage alcohol consumption.

Mia Cherie X Aaron Valentino I gasp into his mouth, my hands fisting in his soaked shirt, pulling him closer, needing him closer and needing to feel every inch of him against me. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I moan, my knees going weak. But he doesn't let me fall. His arms wrap around my waist, holding me up, grounding me, anchoring me to him. The rain pours down around us, but all I feel is heat, his body pressed against mine and his hands in my hair, on my back, everywhere. When he finally pulls back, we're both panting, our foreheads pressed together. "You're mine" he murmurs, his voice rough and possessive. "Say it." "I'm yours" I whisper. "Say it again." "I'm yours, Aaron." Tropes: Badboy x Goodgirl Rich mmc x scholarship student fmc Kill anyone who touches her (literally) 👀 HEA

Aria Matthews is in love with her best friend, Lucas Miller. It is the best kept secret since Area 51 and she knows she would take it to the grave. But things start changing in her senior year of high school when another of her friends takes it upon herself to set Aria up with the captain of the football team, who, incredibly, seems to be interested in her as well. And she doesn't understand why Lucas suddenly grows a stick up his butt about the whole dating deal. Sometimes it just takes a nudge to knock down years of carefully laid plans like the blocks of a Jenga tower. And sometimes, just sometimes, deeper and darker secrets are waiting to be exposed. Content and/or trigger warning: Sexual references and mentions of sexual abuse 🥇1st place in the Hearts Awards - Teen Fiction 🥇1st place in the Inclusive Watty Awards - Teen Fiction 🥇1st place in the Massive Awards - Best Cover 🥇1st place in the Prime Awards - Young Adult 🥇1st place in the Acamia Awards - Best story 2022 🥇1st place in the 2023 Gloria Regali Awards - Best Blurb 🥇1st place in the The Lovely Valentine Awards - Teen Fiction 🥇1st place in the Ocean Blue Awards - Romance 🥇1st place in the Ocean Blue Awards - Best Prologue and Best Storyline 🥇1st place in the Quidditch Awards - Teen Fiction