[WATTYS 2025 WINNER] In the high-speed world of Formula 1, love and secrets collide. Ellie Miles never thought her life had much meaning-until a spontaneous trip to Monaco changed everything. An unexpected meeting with Andrew Ryder, a rising star in the Formula 1 world, led to a fleeting but unforgettable night. Fearing rejection, Ellie vanished without a trace, carrying a secret that would change both of their lives forever. Now, years later, Andrew is at the top of his game-a famous F1 driver on the verge of winning his third world championship. Living a life of luxury, fame, and fast cars, he has no idea that his past is about to come roaring back to haunt him. As their worlds collide once more, Ellie is forced to confront the truth she's kept hidden and the emotions she thought she'd buried. Ellie must navigate the challenges of trust, vulnerability, and a connection that refuses to fade. From the adrenaline-fueled drama of the F1 circuit to the heart-wrenching battles of love and family, Racing Hearts is a story of second chances, unexpected love, and the courage it takes to face the past and race toward the future. First Draft. *UNEDITED* ____________________ Book one of the "Hearts Series" ✩ rankings: #1 ADRENALINE (26/01/2025) #1 SPORTSROMANCE (15/02/2025) #1 LIFECHOICES (18/02/2025) #1 FORMULA1 (26/02/2025) #1 RACINGHEARTS (13/03/2025) #1 UNEXPECTEDLOVE (20/03/2025) #2 SPORTS (14/07/2025) #2 F1 (08/12/2025) #10 NEWADULT (08/12/2025) [Word Count: 102,000+] Copyright ©2025 by Annabella May

~Wattys 2025 Winner~ BLOODLINES: THE BLOOD WITCH Book One of the Bloodlines Trilogy When Morgan Doran inherits her family's ancestral estate, she expects dust, secrets, and maybe a little madness-not a haunting, a legacy of forbidden power, and a warlock sworn to kill her. But Callum Rook isn't just any warlock. Bound by blood and prophecy, he arrives at the castle with a mission-to stop the rise of the last Blood Witch. Yet Morgan is nothing like the monster he was raised to fear. She is human. Fierce. Magnetic. And when he chooses love over legacy, everything unravels. As Morgan's powers awaken, ancient forces rise to claim her. Her bloodline carries not only the power to destroy, but the memory of betrayal, sacrifice, and a curse that spans generations. The deeper she falls for Callum, the more dangerous their love becomes. With enemies closing in and her destiny hurtling toward a tragic end, Morgan must decide: will she accept her fate, or rewrite it in fire and blood? Darkly romantic, chillingly magical, and emotionally devastating-Bloodline: The Blood Witch is a gothic fantasy of love, power, and the price of defying prophecy.

A Good Girl's Guide To Being Naughty • • • Ivy Collins is a normal 21 y/o woman. Except for the fact she's a virgin ... or at least she was until she had sex with her university rivals hockey captain. After a quick (devastatingly quick) night with the man and being called a lousy lay, Ivy made a promise to herself that she wouldn't do it again ... sex that is. Who needs sex when all it brought was insecurities and more, and it wasn't even that good to begin with. Enter Asher Hudson, Ice Hockey captain, her brothers best friend and her best friends brother - triple trifecta of why she shouldn't get involved with him. But when he overhears a conversation Ivy has with her best friend, he gives her an offer she can't refuse. Well, she can, and she should, but why would she want to? Three months, she helps him with his grades, and he'll help her with her sex life. Only one rule, don't fall in love. Easy, right? He'll teach her everything she wants to know, and show her that sex can be fun, you just have to know how to do it right. And Ivy should refuse, after all he's the Ice Hockey captain, her brother's best friend and her best friend's brother - but what's the fun in that. Ivy knows she should say no, but she won't. And she won't fall in love, she can't. ••• Completed • First Draft - half edited. Watty2025 winner #1 in #Romance #1 in #Brotherbestfriend #2 in #bestfriendsbrother #2 in #icehockey

When the arrogant stranger Bess is forced to marry unexpectedly becomes a duke, she'll find herself at odds with her growing feelings as he hunts for a killer. ***** Sharp-tongued Elizabeth 'Bess' Jones is perfectly content living on her lonesome in a tiny village south of Derbyshire. She works as a nurse, owns a small home, and finds the label of 'spinster' an agreeable trade for her independence. But when her entire life is uprooted in an instant, she only has one person to blame: her new husband, Emmett Wilde, who was caught in a compromising situation with her. And now, despite his promise to fake a death certificate after their wedding--to free her of any duty to him or their marriage bed--he sends for her in the dead of night with startling news: his father has been murdered, and he is now the Duke of Ascot with a wife he can no longer deny... [[Word Count: 60,000-70,000 words]] [[Cover designed by Ren Tachibana]]

A mistaken identity, a desperate bargain between two single parents, and a chance to find love again. ***** When Paige Johnston takes a promotion overseas and her nanny quits on her last minute, she's in a bind. After posting the job to a local community board, she's optimistic when she hires a single mother named, Ashley, sight unseen. There's just one problem. Ashley is Ash, and he's not a single mother, he's a single father and former bricklayer. After his long-term girlfriend decided she didn't want to be a mother anymore, Ash has been struggling to makes ends meet and this job promises a fresh start. As the two of them navigate life in the house together, can they let go of old wounds in time to seize happiness together? Cover designed by Ashley Santoro

I pushed away from the dinner table and stood up really fast, then bolted for the door. I couldn't just stay here and listen to him tell me he was leaving, I just couldn't deal with it. Tears start running down my face just as I reach the edge of the grass and sidewalk about to enter the street, but arms wrapped around my waist and I collapsed into them."Baby girl, I'm so sorry." He sounded as heartbroken as I am "I really am, I wanted to tell you first. Before I had to tell very one like that, I don't want you crying like this. It breaks my heart." "I still remember the time I lost you in the woods." "You had no idea how scared I was because I lost you. I thought I lost you for good, that I wouldn't be able to find you, ever." I leaned my head into his chest."Every time I called your name I got more scared that I wouldn't find you, but then I did. I found you. You were huddled up crying against a tree trunk, you didn't even know it was me till I called your name.'' "The way you looked at me after that, made me want to never see you cry again. So I promised myself I would do everything in my power to keep you from crying, and I did a good job. Until now, that is. Not only did I not keep you from crying, but I'm the reason." he says, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes shining with tears. "You also promised never to leave me." I whisper as I'm finally able to talk, my lips quivering. "I know..." "You promised!" I shout, he holds me tighter. "I know... I know, and I'm sorry. I never meant to break that promise either." ~ Tyler and Dakota have been best friends since either can remember, even with a 2 year gap in their age. But what happens when Ty leaves and joins the military, and leaves Kota behind? Something he promised he would never do? Will it wreck their friendship for good, will they be able to repair it? When Ty comes back, Kota is in a terrible situation. Will Ty be able to protect her? © 2013 Kenzie Elaine (Wattys13)

After a year and a half of trying to move on from the what-ifs, the tides have pulled Alexandra Rivera and Zachariah Kim back together again. ***** In the heart of Hawai'i, Alex finds an instant connection when she meets her best friend Emmie's new boyfriend at a party. And even as the relationship becomes strained, their friendship continues to grow until Alex finds herself stuck between the two people she loves the most. Though she learns how hard it is to balance these two relationships, especially after Emmie and Zach's relationship ends, they dive deeper and deeper into the depths of their secrets until their lies pull them under. After everything falls apart and Zachariah moves away for a year and a half, he returns and Alexandra's life is shaken up because he's not the only one back in town. With Zachariah and Emmie both returning to O'ahu, Alex is forced to reconcile what she wants out of life, and who she wants to be. » 2021/2022 wattys shortlist » editor's pick « » featured on @ContemporaryLit, @NewAdult, @StoriesUndiscovered, @Romance, @WattpadAsianFiction, @WattpadEmpowered «

Travel writer Stella comes face-to-face with ex-boyfriend Killian when she's forced to give him a ride to her best friend's wedding in South Africa, pushing her to confront their past-and maybe even consider a future. Season 1 of Against All Odds *** Twenty-something free-spirit Stella Huxley is used to going solo, opting for a life of impulsive adventure and often ending up in less than savory situations she only just manages to get herself out of. She has a dream life and a dream job, even if it's come at the cost of past sacrifices that still haunt her. When she returns to South Africa for her best friend's wedding, she plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Killian Beckett-the only man she's ever loved...and the man she left behind six years ago. When unfortunate circumstances contrive to fling Stella and Killian together, they share a journey, a car, and a room across the country. At first, their reunion is rocky, but with the gauntlet of wedding preparations keeping them close and old memories bubbling to the surface, the fire between them soon threatens to reignite. Killian might be everything Stella's ever wanted, but can they overcome all the reasons they didn't work out for a second chance at love? And as the universe conspires to unite them in the most unexpected ways, can Stella's heart withstand the pressure from the man Killian has become? WARNING: This story contains depictions of mental health crisis such as grief, topics of substance abuse, strong language, and sibling abuse, which may be upsetting to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

BOOK TWO OF THE HITMAN'S MARK SERIES Desperate to retain her place as heir to the Romano famiglia, Val cements her engagement to Ezra McLeod, and prays that his family's power will be enough to retain her position. To please her father and new fiancé, Val plays the part of doting and excited future-bride, at least in the public eye. But behind closed doors, Val is still intoxicated with the notorious hitman, Matteo, who is conflicted by feelings of rage and jealousy every time he sees his principessa with her fiancé. As Val delves further into Cosa Nostra affairs, and her affair with Matteo becomes difficult to hide, Val soon realizes the dangerous price of being the female heir to the Romano dynasty...and is forced to question just how much she would risk for love. WARNING: This story contains content that may not be suitable for some readers, including strong language and depictions of violence. Reader discretion is advised. Season 2 of The Hitman's Mark

"I won't be able to control it then, Eos. Once I'm inside you, there is no going back." He had secrets. I had mine. All was well until he returned. The dark billionaire who made himself out of nothing, the mysterious handsome man that held deep, evil secrets within himself, and the man who was well-known across the country. King I wondered who was he and what he was doing here-in a small town, in the outskirts of the country. I learned my answer when he gave me his curse and told me to live with it forever. An eternity of sadness and despair until he became my new addiction. And I became his.