[2024 WATTYS SHORTLISTED] [18+] In the picturesque lakeside town, the calm waters mask the storm within Juniper Jenkins' heart. Betrayed and broken by her cheating boyfriend, she flees to the sanctuary of her friend's lakeside house, to work remotely for the summer. What she doesn't expect? Running into Wells Hansen-her rival from the Seattle Sun Times-of all people. And of all places, he's running the only coffee shop in town with decent Wi-Fi. She's sworn off men for the summer-pinky-promised no boys-with her two best friends. So there's no way she's breaking that pact. Not after what just happened. But fate doesn't care about pacts, and Juniper keeps bumping into Wells no matter how hard she tries not to. She resents him, and the feeling seems mutual. At least, that's what she believes.

(SAMPLE) Available in Paperback and Kindle Unlimited. Cassie, a famous singer tossed into an arranged marriage with a powerful billionaire to save her reputation, finds herself developing an unexpectedly strong bond with her new husband and the child he's raising. ***** Cassie Castillo's reputation has seen better days. Through a series of misunderstandings and missteps, she's been labeled public enemy number one by every entertainment magazine in the country. So when she's offered a solution to her problems, she can't help but accept, even when it means tying herself to a handsome and mysterious stranger. Lucas Klein is a powerful billionaire who controls the nation's most influential media company, and he's willing to help her...if she becomes his wife. She thought that their marriage would be hell, but the longer she stays with him and his young nephew, the more she begins to question her feelings. Why does Lucas seem to understand her more than anyone else? And why does she feel such a strong connection to the child? Nothing is what Cassie thought it would be, but she'll quickly learn love can hide in the most unexpected places. ***** THE KLEINS SERIES BOOK #1 Content warning: Story contains references to parental abuse and eating disorders

Juliet Adair moved to Pine Falls, Colorado for a reason. The small town is full of werewolves. Hopefully the kind that will keep out of her business as long as she keeps out of theirs. Unfortunately, one wolf seems to have formed a grudge against the new librarian, and wants nothing more than to see her pack up and move along. Roderick Jameson doesn't trust Juliet. She's an outsider, but more than that, she's hoarding secrets. As the leader of the Pine Falls werewolf pack, it is his job to keep his people safe. Any knowledge he doesn't have is dangerous. But the woman scoffs at his intimidation tactics, and she somehow convinces him to install a state-of-the-art security system in her house when his goal was to drive her away. Doesn't help that his inner wolf is lovesick for the fiery greeting card crafter. These two enemies find their animosity flaring hotter until the thin sheet of paper between loathing and longing goes up in flames. But if any kind of lasting connection can be formed, both woman and wolf will need to learn to trust despite the betrayals that lurk in their past. The same shadows that become solid, threatening their future. *Note: This is book 2 in the Wolves of Pine Falls series and it has spoilers for book 1, Claws & Crochet. But this story can still be read as a standalone!

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

[2024 WATTY WINNER][18+] Two best friends. Six weeks. One final shot at love. Since college, Maisie and August have been best friends-frustratingly, perfectly platonic best friends. For nine long years, Maisie has secretly harbored the hope that their relationship could be something more. In that time, Maisie Rhodes has skyrocketed to stardom as a pop sensation, earning the title of Pop Princess from her devoted Rhodie fans. When she hints on The Tonight Show that her love songs are inspired by someone close to her, speculation runs wild. To throw everyone off the scent-and protect her true feelings for August-Maisie's manager hatches a plan: fake a relationship with her best friend. Miraculously, August agrees. Now Maisie faces six weeks of pretending to date the one person she's always loved, all while tiptoeing around the unspoken truth that's lingered between them for years. What could possibly go wrong?

Zoey Gunner never visits Pine Falls, Colorado, her mother's mysterious hometown. But when Zoey's estranged grandmother passes away, the crafty crocheter volunteers to venture into the unknown to clean out the woman's cabin. Besides, she needs some distance from a set of lovingly overbearing brothers. A chance to prove her independence. But when an unclear flyer lands Zoey and her balls of yarn in the middle of a motorcycle club's bar, she becomes tangled with the residents of Pine Falls. One handsome biker in particular seems hell bent on tying her up in knots. Warner Jameson wants Zoey. She smells like the perfect mate with a side of maple syrup and her laughter is the sweetest sound he's ever heard. When the woman appears in the Dark Moon Riders' bar toting a bag of crafts and showing no fear toward the mass of intimidating bikers, it's all Warner can do to keep from kneeling at her feet. The problem is, not only is Zoey an out-of-towner, she's human. And he's...not. Unwilling to let his supernatural secret ruin his happiness, Warner decides to show Zoey just how lovable a monster can be. It helps that she needs rescuing a time or two. But what start out as unlucky accidents, soon become clear actions of sabotage against the woman he's falling for. Someone in Pine Falls doesn't want Zoey sticking around. Asking her to stay is dangerous but leaving means a broken heart... *Note: this story has not been professionally edited. Sorry for any typos!

Irresistible chemistry... forbidden behind the scenes. After a high-profile romance with her last co-star derailed her career, Mackenzie "Mac" Lauren is down to her last chance to prove she can stay professional. Especially since her no-nonsense producer has made it clear: on-set relationships are a hard no, with the risk of being replaced hanging over her head if she steps out of line. But Ryan Moore isn't just her stupidly-hot co-star-he's her best friend. With their storyline together heating up, resisting him is harder than staying in character, especially as their chemistry threatens to blur the line between real life and the roles they play. As their undeniable connection sizzles both on and off camera, Mac faces the ultimate choice: protect her heart and her career by keeping her distance and staying strictly professional, or risk it all for the man she's drawn to in every possible way.

UNEDITED Gemma Alder is used to being the unlucky one in the Alder family: from a nasty rumour about her back in high school to inexplicable mishaps, she seems to be the comical target for unfortunate situations. But if there's one thing she's good at, it's acting. After she graduated from high school, Gemma remodelled herself and decided to pursue a career in acting-but not in the way you think. Gemma Alder has managed to keep a steady business going across Vancouver Island by playing the fake girlfriend for various customers. Her job is difficult and sometimes it blurs the lines between acting and reality, but it's the only job where she can handle taking orders from the boss: herself. And when a ghost from her past appears, the very ghost that destroyed her reputation back in high school, comes to her, begging her to play the part to get an investor for his company off his back, Gemma take the job without a second thought. Because she sees this as a prime opportunity for revenge. Jake Swift is surprised with Gemma's decision but he's desperate to stop Olive Garcia, a well-known investor, from throwing herself at him. All Jake wants to do is make money and provide for his little sister, Hanna. After their parents died in a car accident, Jake has been the sole guardian of Hanna since he was seventeen and he has no interest whatsoever in a romantic relationship until his little sister has graduated from high school. Long story short, Gemma's agreement is a blessing in disguise. Until, that is, things start to go terribly wrong during his company's two-week getaway to a campground in the middle of nowhere. From unexplainable food poisoning to waxing cream in a sunscreen bottle, Jake can't seem to catch a break, which Gemma is pleased with. However, as time begins to tick away, both Jake and Gemma notice a similarity between themselves which, inevitably, leads to something more. Can the two of them forget the past? Or will their relationship go up in smoke?

Mia Tyler has received the opportunity of a lifetime: to sing for thousands at The Royal Opera House. For a working girl from Queens, London has always been the goal she never thought she'd achieve. However, her purpose in England soon changes when a man enters her life, an important man... a man she should stay away from. A man she can't resist. A man who changes everything. Suddenly, she's faced with choices, many of them. One being- what is more important... love? Or integrity?

A chance encounter with the smooth and sexy Caspian pulls Madeline into a world she never knew she belonged to. Facing the truth that her voice is more than it seems, she will have to navigate the legendary city of Atlantis as one of their sirens and find out who tried to kill her in the first place, before they try again. MATURE fantasy, sex, language