|| ONC 2026 Shortlisted || Finn went in expecting an easy jailbreak. Now he's escaping feds, fighting mafia bikers, facing past demons and trying to figure out why the girl with the gum-bomb doesn't return his side-glance. *** Mercenary Finn Spayne's young accomplice King had one job. Crack the code of his cuffs and he strolls out of prison. But the kid ends up sabotaging the whole system. Finn finds himself in a war zone alongside a runaway mafia princess, a ruthless assassin, a goofy heist master and an old friend. Together, they must hatch an escape plan out of Neon City and to safety. But it gets even more dangerous when feelings start to develop. Because in a world where humans are reduced to their utility, feeling is the worst crime. *** CONTENT WARNING: Rated 18+ for graphic violence, strong language and heavy themes.

Teia Cloto arrives in Naples believing all she needs is a vacation. And to finish her master's thesis on an expedited schedule. What she doesn't need is for four matchmaking retirees to arrange a blind date before she's even unpacked. Then, she meets Alden Colle. Worldly, charming, and mildly infuriating, Alden is a serious writer with a slight obsession with Greek mythology. One date turns into two, then three... They sail the Neapolitan coastline, wander ancient ruins, and fall into a connection Teia has no sensible way to explain. Around Alden, Naples feels oddly familiar. Hidden frescoes come alive. Mirrors show glimpses of another reality. And when he speaks of Theseus, Alden's sadness feels a little too personal. On their final night, Alden makes her a promise: Naxos. Two years. Five years later, Teia has a successful career, a dependable fiancé, and no intention of dwelling on Alden Colle again, especially when her ancient dating history suggests men like him rarely keep their promises. But when she returns to Italy, the past begins tugging at threads she thought she had severed, and Alden is waiting at the other end. Now Teia must decide whether to protect the sensible life she has built or risk everything for a love story Fate has been retelling for thousands of years. *** Water and Sand is a contemporary love story that reimagines the myth of Theseus and Ariadne, where love is a labyrinth and friendship feels like the safest way out. #Wattys2026

Gabriella, betrayed by her family, has finally decided to leave them behind in Italy and follow her dreams of studying in England for a year abroad. She arrives and is captivated by the blonde, nice guy Rory who is always happy to help. Before she can unpack her suitcase he takes her out with his friends to a trendy theatre night. There she sees Elliot, the well-spoken and striking looking actor and they immediately connect. But Elliot is also Rory's best friend... Scents Of Clementine tells the story of a girl in a new country trying to leave her past behind while being swept off her feet by two charming Englishmen. WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS: mature/sexual content; explicit language; family dispute; alcohol and drug consumption.

Born to be a monster, Daemian acts like one - cruel, ruthless, feared by all. But when he saves Lune from a ritual sacrifice, his defiance sparks a rebellion that could topple his mother, the Blood Queen, and rewrite her world built on fear. In a kingdom ruled by prophecy, mercy may be the deadliest power of all.

Teresia knows sleeping with the pastor's son is a terrible idea. After her mother marries an assistant pastor and moves them onto the grounds of The Well Fellowship, eighteen-year-old aspiring writer Teresia Eklund quickly learns never to give people a reason to talk. Then she meets Charles Connors. He's the head pastor's son, the mechanic next door, and everything Teresia should run away from. Their attraction is immediate. Their relationship is secret. But Charles comes with a history Teresia doesn't fully understand. Then she meets Jeannette Reyes. She becomes Teresia's new best friend. She's also Charles's ex-girlfriend, and whatever existed between them may not be as finished as Teresia would like to believe. Jeannette is also the mind behind The First Draft, a secret writing group that meets off campus and reads the kind of stories Teresia would never dare leave open on her desk at home. Teresia wants in. She wants to write something good enough to make them stop seeing her as the quiet church girl. The church wants Teresia pure. The writing group wants her honest. Charles wants her in secret. And Teresia wants too much of it all to walk away. ❤️ REVIEWS ❤️ Your story still pops into my head. I loved it. So different from everything I've read before - Eleanor of Corrupt Romantics

#ONC2026 | 🏆 Round 3 Winner | 🏅 Round 1 & 3 Ambassador Pick | Speaking to the dead is permitted, but raising the dead is forbidden. After discovering an unlikely copy of The Necrotic Guide, budding necromancer Emelie is both delighted and disgusted by the powers the book promises. Will it be enough to speak to her lost love again?

Book 1 of the Terran Restoration Series ⋆ ✦ ⋆ Formerly called Dark Night. Forensic Biologist Dr. Lark Whitmore is part of a survey team sent to planet M51-VCS‑6‑N1 one month ahead of a group of new residents. At first, the mission seems simple: study the land, catalog resources, identify profit regions, and ensure a smooth landing for those who will follow. But as the team explores breathtaking landscapes and discovers alien wonders, cracks begin to show. The planet is unpredictable, the corporation is profit-driven, and this dream "paradise" is far more hostile than anyone imagined. Stuck together under an impossible deadline, the researchers clash, compromise, and realize that trust-and perhaps something more-may be the only thing keeping them sane. A story of exploration, corporate greed, and moral compromise, where the frontier is beautiful, dangerous, and unforgettable. ⋆ ✦ ⋆ Best Ranks: #1 in Forensics #3 in Science Fiction-Space & Serious #4 in Coworkers #5 in Galaxy & Corporate #10 in Romantasy ⋆ ✦ ⋆ Themes and TWs: ememies to lovers (disagreeing corporate coworkers to lovers?), corporate greed and politics, death, gore, horror/thriller elements, suffocation, drowning, electrocution, gunshot, combat/military, forensics ⋆ ✦ ⋆ The cover of this book is composed of two of the Hubble Space Telescope's photos: the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) surrounded by a border of galaxies within the Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

They look at me and see the girl inside a golden world. The glimmer of my winnings. The sparkle of diamonds, awards, and bestselling records. An icon. A budding legend. The best things on two legs the music business has ever witnessed. But they don't see me. The static of my past. In and out of foster care. Ghost mom in rehab. Completely on my own. Before the stage lights, I was a lost girl taken in by a family that showed me what happiness could feel like. And a boy who showed me how love could undo the pain of our past. I watch him now on-screen, too. Winning. The golden boy. Absolutely fucking miserable. A mirror to my own suffering. Imprisoned in my own life by my record label, the hounds of the media, and the high-profile status of my name. I'm tired of being locked in a box. And Grayson Prayer might be the only man I can trust to break us free.