[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.

Anastasia Bailey and Mateo Russo share a passion, and while he spends his nights running and catching tosses down a football field, Anastasia is on the sidelines cheering for Cambridge University sports team. The two may have caught each other's attention since they stepped foot onto campus, but it isn't until junior year approaches that the sexual tension finally gets unleashed. *black female lead and latino male lead*

Recently moving to the west coast, Daniela Parker expected a shift when moving with her mother and brother to Los Angeles. Daniela didn't think she had anything to worry about since her brother is an A+ student, and she stayed out of people's business. But when a known gangster, Enrique González, put his eyes on her, she had trouble avoiding the charming brown-eyed man with a background of violence. *black female lead and latino male lead* #1 in the U.S 4/25/25

At seven, she was nothing more than a child in white lace, her hand pressed into his as their families sealed a deal with rings and blood. He was eleven-already carved from stone, already the heir to a throne built on power, violence, and fear. Neither of them understood the weight of the promise that bound them. But years later, that promise has returned to claim them both. She is no longer a little girl. She has grown into a mafia princess-reckless, untamed, with fire in her veins and defiance in her tongue. He is no longer a boy. He is the ruthless leader of an empire, a man whose word is law and whose hands are stained with blood. They are opposites, destined to clash. She hates his control, his cold indifference, his unyielding dominance. He despises her rebellion, her refusal to bend, the chaos she brings into his ordered world. Yet hate is not the only thing that burns between them. Beneath every furious argument lies an attraction as sharp and dangerous as the knives hidden under their skin. Every glance dares the other closer, every touch threatens to ignite the very fire they're both trying to smother. But in their world, love is a weakness. Betrayal is a death sentence. And their marriage-forced, bound in blood and tradition-is less a union and more a war. Still, amidst the smoke of gunfire, whispered lies, and enemies circling like wolves, a brutal truth rises: They may destroy each other. Or they may burn the whole world down together. #1 in arrange #1 in naughty #1 in unholy #1 in mafiastory

Forced into a marriage neither of them wanted, a fierce Greek mafia princess and a ruthless Sicilian underboss must navigate a storm of power, passion, and betrayal - only to discover that their greatest battle might be against their own hearts. *** They hated each other from the moment they met, but little did they know, they were destined to be together. Millicent Rhea Darmos: Princess of the Greek Mafia. At 25 years old she's running her own publishing company. But now it's time she fulfils her duty to her family's organisation. It's time she gets married. Costantino Salvatore Accardi: Underboss and Heir to the Sicilian Mafia. At 28 years old, he has no interest in settling down-he already has it all. He believes in family above all, so why bring in an outsider? Yet, after a strange string of events, the two of them find themselves thrust into married life. It's full of chaos, drama and all kinds of tension. The question is, how do they survive their marriage and the storm that follows? *** "I've never kissed anyone." My voice trembled with a tinge of vulnerability - something I hated. But Costa didn't seem to mind that I was nervous or anxious. "Good. You're mine." He spoke so seriously, without a flicker of doubt as he took my hand in his. "So you want it be special, principessa?" "Every girl's first kiss is special." I whispered, watching as he brought my hand up to his lips. "I only care about yours."

ɪ'ᴍ ɢʀᴀᴅᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ ʙʏ ᴅᴀʏ, ꜱᴏ ʙᴇᴀʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ. Nothing serious about this. { This book has not been seen to. stop yourself from commenting about the state of it. } ------ Belle and Kane elevate each other in the most profound of ways. Their love is extraordinary, and their connection remains unyielding. They have borne witness to each other's finest and darkest moments, steadfastly supporting one another through life's tumultuous journey. Yet, Kane grapples with his own inner turmoil, and Belle confronts her own trials. The lingering question persists: how long can they endure this tumultuous path together? "Are we fucking friends or friends who fuck? You decide." Kane Reed West is haunted by his demons, beset by challenges that seem to multiply with each passing day. The one solace he finds is in his best friend, Isabelle Chilton. But soon, will that be enough?

❦"𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 #𝟏"❦ • 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 works as a stripper at club LUX after she escaped from her father, Valentine Rostov the leader of the Russian Mafia. During her time at the club, she meets a dangerous man, Lorenzo Marcelio the leader of the Italian Mafia. Her father Valentine Rostov sends men to the club one night to send a message to Gianna while a note is sent to Lorenzo informing the two that Diabolo is back and he wants his heart back. Lorenzo soon finds out a bit about Gianna's past but most of all, he finds out she was once in love and engaged to the deadliest assassin in the world. Rowan Starkov, also known as, Diabolo. War is now set between the Russian and Italian Mafia and between two lovers who are now enemies. Gianna later finds herself stuck between two men fighting for the same things. Rowan wants his daughter back and later finds himself more entangled in Gianna than before. And Lorenzo wants to protect the two people that have become most important to him. But this entire war revolves around everyone's most precious treasure, Sofia Starkov, the daughter of Gianna and Rowan. • "Oh, little bird, oh, little bird." My other hand gripped her breast firmly but hard enough to send her throbbing. "I'm going to destroy every part of you tonight, I will leave scars that I can only hope your new fiancé can find, I'm going to mark you with my name so he knows exactly who he's fucking with." I looped my arm around her waist hoisting her onto my thigh so her clit rubbed against it. "By the time I'm done with you, you won't be able to fuck your fiancé without thinking of me, without seeing me, without wanting me." ⚠️Warning⚠️ - lots of SMUT

Book 3 of New York series (Does not need to be read as a series) His hand travelled further up my thigh causing my skirt to move along with it. I bit my lip even harder. "Now Adalyn ,if I do this, there's no escaping me. You're mine after. No one else. Only mine. Meaning no other man or woman will ever touch you like I do. Never. Only me. Do you understand?" I brought my eyes up to his and nodded my head. He squeezed my upper thigh and I let my lip go to gasp. "Use your words my sweet girl. Do you understand?" My breaths came out hard and heavy. My chest heaved up and down rapidly. "I understand Axel. I understand." His smirk deepened. A loud moan escaped my mouth and I arched my back off the bed at the feeling of his warm hand suddenly cupping my flower. "Good girl. My good girl." He huskily whispered in my ear. ****** A shy, harmless girl with a deep past meets a man she doesn't recognise. The pull she feels towards him is indescribable. A well-known, ruthless CEO that has had a life of gold casts his eyes on a girl that instantly enraptures his attention. #32 business #13 soft #46 cute #443 love #1 quiet #3 kinky #1 soulmates #2 shy #3 beautiful Cover made by @AnonymousssN