Special Valentine's Day short story A pair of vintage Valentinos. A replacement Galentine's Day date. A night to remember.

Hudson Ellis is good at his job. Somehow, he manages not to annoy people when he knocks at their doors and asks them to contribute to the charity he works for - instead, he gets them to sign up for sponsoring programmes and fish whatever spare change they have out of their pockets. Even the infamously tough residents of New York City are falling victim to Hudson's easy-going ways and wide smile; that is, until one woman renders him speechless with sarcastic refusals and slams her door in his face. Perhaps Hudson would be able to forget her - if it wasn't for the fact that she lives on the same floor of the next apartment over, and they both have floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for a rather generous view into each other's flats.

Sophie Cartwright is an overworked, exhausted, down-on-her-luck single mother to eight year old, Maddie. She has bills up to her eyeballs, an academically challenged daughter who refuses to go to school, and an ex with an ego the size of a small country. Just as life seems to be getting on top of her, and there appears to be no way out, she meets American Noah Bentley, a self-proclaimed piano man, and the new musician hired to play at the piano bar where she works. In normal circumstances, Noah and Sophie would have never crossed paths. They come from completely different worlds - literally. But each has something the other needs ... and the ability to change the other's life for the better.

A jilted, curvy accountant joins a gym on a journey of self-love. The last thing she plans for is to fall for her grumpy trainer. ***** Who needs men, anyway? Certainly not Joanna Lozano. The youngest of five and the only girl, she has learned at a young age the importance of survival in a man's world. It's what drives her to be a successful accountant in the corporate world of Chicago. When her boyfriend of six years unceremoniously dumps her--though her pride is wounded--she accepts the rejection as an opportunity to rediscover herself, starting with a reluctant agreement to join an eight-week fitness boot camp. Sage Kingston is a straightforward gym owner who appreciates and lives by the monotony of his life. His only goals are to provide and care for his young son after his divorce left him jaded. He doesn't have the time or patience to play games that come with dating or relationships. Who needs that headache, anyway? Yet, with a new season of boot camp at his gym underway, he's instantly attracted to the curvy and feisty participant, Joanna. However, his work is cut out for him since she's not easily charmed or swayed by his bulging biceps or six-pack abs. But even Joanna can't deny the mounting tension after each draining and sweaty training session. As they grow to know each other, so does their affection and both must deal with overcoming their hurt pasts and decide if unexpected love is worth the risk. ©2022 LJ Rae

Rescued from a blind date from hell, a career woman's one night stand with her would be savior has unforeseen consequences. **** Up and coming New York apartment manager, Vanessa Torres' life is going perfectly according to her five year plan. Well, everything except in the love department, but that will come later. On cloud nine from her recent promotion, she agrees to go on a blind date arranged by her friend. Little does she know her squeaky clean life is about to turn upside down, following a one night stand with a handsome stranger, who saves her from the disastrous set-up. Reputable, lease up closer, Gabriel Tate, loves to live life by the game of chance, with no long term plans in mind. Blessed with Adonis-like looks and a charming personality he's used to getting what he wants when he wants until one flip of a coin changes his life forever. Their lives become entangled in a heated competition to fulfill rental contracts for their respective employers, not to mention running in the same social circles within the apartment industry. They soon realize change and compromise are necessary not only within their careers but also life and neither expected to find love during the chaotic and dysfunctional rivalry. Open Novella Contest 2023 Prompts: #5 Flip a coin and make a life choice with it. Two choices, one coin, and no turning back. Do you dare? #25 "If he smiled at you, he'll break your heart. If she winked at you, she'll rip you apart. #39 On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable , but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out. © 2023 LJRae

"He was not my husband, he was not my lover and yet I let him do things on my body." For Cassandra Vitalis, the most painful thing in her life was watching the man she loves get married to the love of his life. So she drowned her sorrows with alcohol and proposed a deal to a stranger that her sane self would never ever do it. To forget the unrequited love she has for the man she loves she slept with the man she met at the wedding. When she woke up much to her horror, the man who spent a wild and uninhibited night with her was none other than Calix Spiridakou, the cousin of the man she loves! Would she accept this devilish man's offer to help her forget her first love by spending her days--and probably her nights in his bed?

Heath and Teagan only agree on one thing: they don't want to be in a relationship. Teagan, who is busy finishing her law degree, needs a break from the stress of living up to her parents' expectations. Heath is following his passion and starting his career as a physical therapist, but his family's drama is tearing his life apart behind the scenes. As members of the same friend group, Heath and Teagan will be around each other plenty during wedding season, whether they like it or not. With no time or desire to date, the two come to an agreement: pre-scheduled hookups through the summer or until something real comes along. A situational relationship, otherwise known as a situationship. Their arrangement seems perfect. If their past doesn't come back to bite them.

Flirting with a patient is fine . . . as long as it doesn't go further. . . . Sabine is a talented nurse starting her dream job when she meets her newest, flirtatious patient, Ziggy. When Ziggy receives a life-changing diagnosis, he turns to Sabine for help to make it through. As their relationship turns to dependence, Sabine tries to maintain her professionalism enough to support him while he fights for his life. . . . Trigger warnings: This story contains uncomfortable depictions of a serious illness and contains mature content including language, sexual situations, and drug references. Intended for mature audiences only. ©2020 E.M. Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Hooking up with her best friend's brother is Sam's childhood crush come true, but to have a future together, she'll have to overcome her past. ***** Sam Larson has always known Mason Wells is off-limits. He's her best friend's brother, and their family took her in when she needed somewhere to go as a teen. She thought she'd let her crush go, but seeing him at his sister's wedding brings all those old feelings back. And then some. Hooking up is one thing, but to have a real relationship, Sam will have to wrestle with the past she fears if she's going to have the future she longs for. [[Word count: 60,000-70,000]] Cover designed by @OutofMyLimit17 Content Warning: This book contains references to drug use, childhood neglect, and intimate partner abuse.

Christmas is always the time of year catching up with family, eating yummy food, and having a good time; but not for Millie Baker. Two years ago her mother passed away from cancer and her father is out of the picture. Now, Millie finds herself once again alone on the wretched holiday. But she isn't the only one alone on the holiday, her boss, Noah Turner, is too. What happens when two lonely people decide to spend Christmas together? Will they finally learn to re-love Christmas and find love themselves? Cover done by @a_winter_day