NOW PUBLISHED BY SOURCEBOOKS FIRE! Sixteen-year-old Jackie Howard knows nothing about her new guardian Katherine Walter when she moves from New York to Colorado. After discovering that Katherine has twelve boys, Jackie fears that living in the Walter house isn't going to be easy. It's just icing on the cake that the boys look like models... Cover design by pizzazz-

We were friends with benefits. Reed would stop by every time he was in Anchorage, and that was the extent of things, although I started to want more. Then he ended our arrangement, and I suspected there was another woman, but it wasn't until I overheard a conversation that I understood completely. He thought I was calling and texting because I couldn't take no for an answer. That wasn't my problem at all. Two blue lines were.

He left me on a hike in Alaska, three days before a snowstorm. He thought I'd die. I didn't. I thought I knew him. I didn't. I didn't know him at all.

After many years of trying...and the pain of loss, I was finally pregnant. The night my sister got married, my husband drunkenly confessed to me that he had been in love with my sister for two years. I divorced him without talking to him. Now, two years later, I'm ready to listen.

I almost fell in love with you After the club last night And you told me don't spend too much Girl, take your own advice Girl, don't act like you changed When we both know you can't And I know you love me 'Cause I think you're lovely

She's 25. He's 18. What could they possibly have in common? According to Ms. Lawson-absolutely nothing. But Mr. Amani Knight? He begs to differ. The moment he laid eyes on his new substitute teacher, he made up his mind: he had to have her. For the next three months, Ms. Lawson will be his sub-but not in the way she expects. Can Amani change her mind and break through her defenses before time runs out? Or will she stick to the rules and keep things strictly professional? Dive into this steamy, slow-burn romance and see who really ends up in control.

Five years changed everything. Kalliope "Kali" Lawson is thirty, thriving, and finally in control of her life. What once felt overwhelming-juggling single motherhood and building her career-became the very thing that shaped her into the woman she is today. With her village behind her, Kali didn't just survive... she elevated. Now she's respected, focused, and unshakable. Amani "Mani" Xavier Knight is twenty-three and living a life most people only dream about. Drafted into the NFL during his second semester at Redwood State University, he went from college athlete to full-blown brand overnight. Money, fame, women-he learned fast how to navigate it all. His past? Including the scandal that once tied him to Ms. Lawson? Long forgotten... or so he thought. Because one unexpected run-in changes everything. Five years later, Mani finds out Kali has been raising a child he knew nothing about. Now, his world is flipped upside down. Kali isn't the same woman he left behind-she's colder, guarded, and not interested in reopening old wounds. Mani isn't the same boy either-he's grown, successful, and not used to being shut out. But beneath the anger, the tension, and the pride... There's still something there. Now add: A girlfriend who refuses to let go. A coach who's a little too interested in Kali. And a past that refuses to stay buried. Two people. A secret that changes everything. And a love story neither of them ever truly let go of. Tune in to see what happens when the past catches up... and refuses to be ignored.

I knew my best friend since childhood loved me. I knew it. And when I got back from my business trip, I was going to tell him how I felt, especially when he told me he had something exciting to tell me. But it wasn't that he loved me. He'd gotten married while I was on an overseas business trip to my worst enemy.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.

Jamani Raelynn Carr has always preferred life behind the scenes-quiet, focused, and in control. But when she lands her dream internship as a sideline reporter for the Detroit Pistons, she finds herself thrust into the spotlight, balancing ambition, family expectations, and her own need for authenticity. Navigating the male-dominated world of sports journalism isn't easy, especially when every day feels like a high-stakes audition. Jalen Montez Duren, the Pistons' charismatic young star, is used to the pressure and scrutiny that comes with fame. But underneath his cool exterior, he's searching for something real-someone who sees the man beyond the jersey. When he meets Jamani at a chaotic NBA Media Day, a single thoughtful question sparks a connection neither of them expects. As Jamani and Jalen's paths continue to cross-on the court, at press conferences, and in the city that raised them-friendship slowly deepens into something more. But their growing bond is tested by public scrutiny, career setbacks, past heartbreaks, and the ever-present tension between personal dreams and professional duty. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Detroit, this slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance explores what it means to fight for love, identity, and your rightful place in the world. For Jamani and Jalen, the real victory might be learning to trust themselves-and each other-when the spotlight fades.