Content to live in his superstar twin's shadow, Evan Reed never expected to join the volleyball team-or fall for his brother's best friend. But one accidental collision sets off a whirlwind of spikes, secrets, and unexpected feelings that just might pull him into the spotlight for good. *** Evan has spent his entire life living in the shadow of his twin brother and volleyball prodigy, Ethan Reed. And to be honest? He likes it there. No expectations, no pressure, just quiet. That is, until one day he trips and falls into a boy, and subsequently triggers a highly dramatic series of events that starts with him reluctantly joining the volleyball team, and ends with him dating his brother's best friend. (And unfortunately, after all of it, he's still on the volleyball team.) *** NOW COMPLETED

*Synopsis* Rain Jameson has always felt the overwhelming burden of expectation, a weight that has shaped her life from an early age. Living in the suffocating shadow of her older sister, she has faced a relentless barrage of comparisons that have intensified her mother's grip on her. Her mother, a woman of unwavering ambition, has meticulously crafted Rain's life, still at the age of 22, dictating every detail in pursuit of perfection. The one sanctuary she has found amidst this chaos is figure skating-a graceful art her mother introduced her to when she was just a child. The icy rink has become Rain's refuge, a place where she can express her true self as she glides effortlessly across the surface, mastering spins and leaps that leave spectators breathless. As her senior year at Boston University approaches, she pours her heart and soul into the skating team, balancing her studies with intensive training and dreaming of a future that could break her mother's tight grip. Across campus, Beckham Wade stands at the center of attention as the legendary star of the hockey team at 23. From the moment he took his first steps, the rink has felt like his second home-a place where he trains tirelessly, his skates carving arcs in the ice. Inspired by his father, once a famous player himself. He embodies the essence of a natural athlete, his muscles toned from practice and gameplay, filled with the exuberance of youth. Days are spent honing his skills, while nights blur into wild parties where laughter echoes and adrenaline reigns. He grapples with the envy of his male peers, many of whom view him as a rival rather than a friend. As winter unfolds, Rain and Beckham are drawn closer on the rink. A spark ignites between them, hinting at a chemistry that's hard to ignore. Yet, as their feelings grow, they stand at a crossroads, aware that what could blossom into something beautiful might also cost them the very sanctuaries that define their lives

Aaliyah Johnson is in her final year at Magnolia State University, where she's balancing a scholarship, an art degree, and the pressure of not knowing what comes next. Elias Carter, the university's baseball captain, seems to have everything figured out, except his own heart. When mutual friends and a poetry club bring them together, sparks ignite in the most unexpected ways. She's brilliant and blunt; he's disciplined and mysterious. But between classes, practices, and the expectations of everyone around them, connection becomes the one thing they can't plan for. From strangers to friends to something far deeper, their story grows with every season, rooted beneath a magnolia tree that sees it all. Autumn brings sparks: "I'm curious about you, but I don't even know why yet." Winter, closeness: "You calm me when I didn't realise I needed calming." Spring, love: "I've known for a while... I just didn't want to ruin it." Summer, uncertainty: "Even if everything changes, you've changed me already." Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the images used both on the cover and throughout the story.