~ 2021 WATTY'S SHORTLIST ~ "I-well, I..." I hesitated with my response. I wanted to let go. To not worry about what would happen in the future. I'd always loved staring into fires. It hypnotized me with its beauty and danger. It was so tantalizing to look at, but one little touch could destroy. I knew the heat between Tyler and I was similar. It started off small but it had only grown in the weeks he'd been here. We'd fed it unintentionally, and it had gone from an ember to a crackling flame. Every nerve in my body wanted to reach out and touch it, even though I knew I'd get burned. *************************************************** Pia Callahan always lived a carefree life with no worries. Her only responsibilities were to attend her college classes (sometimes) and keep herself fed (on ramen). When tragedy strikes, Pia is all of the sudden thrown into a whirlwind of change. She has to grow up and take on more responsibility than she could ever imagine: the custody of her best friend's son. Pia may not believe she is the best person for the job, but she is determined to do it. She'll trade in frat parties for PTA meetings and beer-bongs for apple juice. But what happens when the ruggedly hot motocross athlete Tyler Westwood shows up in her small town? Tyler lives on the fast track, never caring too much about consequences. You can't when your job is to do backflips through the air. Sometimes, you just have to send it and hope for the best. From the second Tyler meets Pia, he knows he wants her. But she is determined to ignore their bubbling chemistry. She has priorities now and a summer fling isn't one of them. Will Pia be able to stay away from Tyler? Or will she decide to hit the throttle? ***************************************************

"You just have no idea." His voice was thick with restraint. "W-what," I breathed. His gaze flicked to my lips as his thumb stroked again. The calloused pad against my soft flesh sent goosebumps down my arms. His once warm eyes were dark as they lifted and bared into my soul. "What you do to... men." His husky whisper weakened my knees. I almost fell but his other hand settled on my hip, pulling me closer to him. "What you do to me," he added on a breath. The hand on my jaw shifted. His fingers left trails of tingles as he slipped them back slowly, under my earlobe and into my curls. *************************************************** As a young girl, Charlotte Avery's favourite pass time was daydreaming about her Prince Charming: Archer Johnson. She never stopped to consider that Archer was her brother's best friend.. Or that he always appeared severely creeped out by her attention. On her 16th birthday, Charlotte received a harsh reality check. Realizing just how embarrassing she had been acting, she swore to never make a fool of herself in front of Archer again. The problem? She is about to head to college and unfortunately it's the same school where Archer is currently the star quarterback. Follow Charlotte during her first year at USC as she juggles new experiences, social anxiety, family drama back home, and avoiding Archer. These are the unintended consequences of an embarrassing childhood crush. *************************************************** Top Ranks: #1 - Hot #1 - Collegeromance #1 - Brothersbestfriend #1 - Football #1 - Brooding #1 - Slowburn #1 - Quarterback #1 - Athlete #2 - Newadult #2 - Player #5 - Badboy #73 - Romance ***************************************************

With a life dedicated to being a voice behind the sports world, journalist Sarai Nazaire worked her way through the ranks to become one of the youngest and most sought after faces for sports television. Her will and honor to not only be accurate in statistical and skill reporting, but also a sounding board of honesty and empathy who humanizes the most known faces in the world, puts her into a position that she never saw coming. What happens when Sarai's voice becomes synonymous with one of the most prolific and explosive players in the NFL? Will this be the beginning of a whirlwind to mystically morph all that is wrong within their lives into something beautiful or will it be what destructively rips the already fragile aspects of themselves at the seams?

Bailey Rogers has been sheltered her entire life. With the lifestyle her father lived in the streets, it was crucial that he kept her hidden from the world. Bailey rarely left their gated estate. With a full staff that consisted of a nanny, chef, housekeeper, butler and tutor, Bailey was well taken care of until she became a teenager and was sent to the UK for boarding school. Ronald Rogers did everything in his power to protect his only child. He had the funds to give her the best and that's exactly what he did. What he didn't prepare for was being indicted by the FBI on kingpin charges. His accounts were immediately frozen, leaving his daughter out on her own. Ronald found himself doing something he never imagined doing, and that's making a deal with his best friend turned enemy, Frank Price, to ensure that his daughter isn't left out to dry. Jerrell Price has been preparing for the day he will take over his father's empire. His father, Frank, began teaching him the in and outs of the game the day he turned ten. To Jerrell, there is no one more powerful and more respected than his father. He holds his father's word as law, so when his father presented him with his plan to seal a deal with Ronald Rogers he knew not to question it. Jerrell will do anything to make his father proud, and that includes agreeing to marry a girl he doesn't know in order to expand his father's empire.

to Sage Alexander he was the sweetest thing she'd ever known.

(PREVIOUSLY TITLED SIX INCH HEELS) Remi Simmons has always been a go-getter: independent and thirsty for success. After a dysfunctional family home leaves her to fend for her self, she is adamant that she cannot depend on anyone and will make a way for herself, by herself. Everything seems to be tunnel vision for her until she starts an unusual relationship with her professor, Omari Beckham-a chill person within the classroom, with his own secrets lurking outside of it. As their relationship begins to evolve seriously, Omari teaches Remi not only the basics of psychology, but how to put her pride aside and become someone's equal.

"I don't wanna be just a memory And I don't wanna feel your wings break free Because without you I'm lost in the breeze I gotta be strong now, I gotta show you how I'll love you like I've never, ever loved somebody I'll give you things you didn't even know you wanted Don't tell me that it's not enough My time is up, you're over us 'Cause I think I might do anything for you If you just let me ... " - Sinead Harnett

Jaren "Jericho" Young is on top of the world. Both his career and personal life are finally aligned. His music is bigger than he ever dreamed it could be and he is engaged to a woman who he loves more than life itself, Fatima Ward. Fatima Ward is living her dream! Rather than pursue a career in medicine like her strict parents expected, she took a leap of faith on her real passion-writing. Her gamble paid off because her first book, "A Chosen Dream" was a literary and commercial success. On top of her professional success she is also newly engaged to Jaren Young, an extremely successful Hip Hop artist. From their unusual meeting up until their engagement. Jaren and Fatima have survived a year full of multiple trials and tribulations. Through it all one thing remained true, they both loved each other enough to fight for what they had. With all the scandals now behind them they are ready to focus on their growing careers and their future together, but things don't always go as planned. Will these two continue to fight for each other or will the pressures around them become too much? ***This book is the sequel to Unapologetically Me*** © 2017 D.S. Little All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. Copyright law. ************

COMPLETED *FOLLOW ME, SOME CHAPTERS MAY BE PRIVATE*

After being lied to constantly, hurt repeatedly, and cheated on more times than she can count, Kamille Riley Paige just wants to be loved and appreciated for being the good woman that she is. Being in an on and off six year relationship with her child's father, Raemond Woods, has taken a complete tole on her at only twenty four years old. He was the man that she loved so much, but treated her so badly in return. Kamille was the perfect woman for any man, a blessing in a form of a slim-thick figured, browned skin woman with a sassy mouth. She was beautiful, hard-working, independent, and she was loyal, but he just didn't notice it until she was both feet out of the door. All Kamille wanted was to love and be loved, to commit and be committed to, to cherish and be cherished. She just wanted a man that could provide her wants and needs, as well as accept her daughter Raegan with open arms, in exchange for her. Will Raemond step up and be the man and father that she wants and needs him to be, or will she stray elsewhere in search of someone who was willing to meet her half way with an even exchange? VANESSA WRIGHT © COPYRIGHTED 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.