Watty's 2024 shortlist, Watty's 2024 Best Characters winner A story of boxing, drugs, and love Tyreek Nixon is a 26 year old underground boxer who goes by the alias Pretty Boy. He's known he was attracted to boys for as long as he could remember, but one man really catches his attention during one of his fights. All he wants is even the chance to get to know this man better, no matter how many fights he has to win to impress him. DeAndre Kingston is a 28 year old New York native who is known around the city for his product- weed and pills. One day when DeAndre is selling at an underground boxing event, he finds himself suddenly enraptured by one of the fighters. DeAndre may have never felt an attraction for a man before but that sure didn't stop him from wanting this "Pretty Boy" The two embark on an intertwining story of romance, blood, and drama, enduring it all for the sake of being able to call each other "mine"

In a society where technology enhances conformity, Charlie defies expectations by requesting to transition to male. But when the system wants to change his brain rather than his body, he and the woman he loves must join forces with a group of Queer Rebels to fight for their freedom. Season 1 of The Queer Rebels *** Charlie has always been told that on his twentieth birthday, he can choose to be anything he wants. Most people choose to be beautiful, or smart, or funny, but on his Choosing Day, Charlie asks for a male body to fit his mind. But when he realizes that authorities aren't going to accept his request and he's in grave danger, his only choice is to escape with Marcy, the woman he loves. Together, Marcy and Charlie give up everything they've ever known to escape the city for the Queer Rebels, who for decades have been providing refuge to runaways. At first, Charlie and Marcy's relationship blooms as Charlie finds a community he never knew existed and harnesses advanced tech the government's always hidden from them. However, nothing is quite as it seems, and things get complicated as they are forced to navigate ideological factions within the Queer Rebels. Charlie is drawn into a struggle for liberation, while Marcy urges caution. Their love was born in a repressive regime, but will it survive in the freedom beyond the city's borders? Content warning: This story contains violence and mentions of homophobia and/or transphobia that may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

When a mafia princess's life is threatened, she is forced to accept the help of a bodyguard-the emotionally damaged underboss of a crime family, her ex-boyfriend. Standalone in the Sons of Sin series *** Eva and Reaper were once in love and full of hope. Their relationship came to a dramatic end when the pressure of Eva's political engagement to Reaper's best friend-Torin-became too much. Upon miscarrying their unborn child, Eva turned to Reaper for support, only to be let down when he used alcohol as a coping mechanism. A year later, the two cannot be in the same room as each other without hurling abuse. But when an unknown threat attempts to take Eva's life, Reaper is assigned as her bodyguard. Eva is determined to make him quit and he is just as determined to hang on. But beneath the hostility are unresolved feelings and profound wounds that they'll have to move past to figure out who's trying to kill Eva and why. Content warnings: The story contains references to and depictions of alcoholism and miscarriage that may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

[2024 WATTY WINNER][18+] When global pop sensation, Maisie Rhodes, accidentally reveals her love songs are about someone close to her, she agrees to fake-date her best friend, August, to keep the truth buried. But with six weeks of pretending and nine years of unspoken feelings between them, she's forced to choose between protecting their friendship or risking everything for the one person she's never stopped wanting.

*WATTYS WINNER 2024* Mateo Casparij is masquerading as an aloof mountain man on a self-imposed quest to avoid anything likened to sex or a relationship and he's come to love his quiet Coloradan life in the snowy ski town of Crested Butte. There's just one problem with his new life. Maia Jefferies. The painfully beautiful novelist that lives in the cottage next door. And he has a terrible, awful crush on her. Her infectious smile, witty banter and voluptuous curves make him want to break his vow of impotence and be whatever she needs. Maia is on deadline for her next novel and after a nasty breakup with her former muse and the man she thought was her Prince Charming, she's been struggling to craft a romance worthy of her best-selling author status. Yet, spending time with her neighbor, Mateo, appears to be doing the trick to help her overcome her writer's block and against her better judgement to never work with a muse again, she hires him to be her inspiration. And as her story flows, so do Maia and Mateo's feelings for each other. But when Maia's ex comes crawling back and Mateo's past rears its head, the two will have to face the feelings they've been trying to ignore or risk losing the love they've been looking for all along.

*2024 Watty Awards WINNER* All Vivienne Clarke wanted was to plan the best wedding of the season -- but of course, her libido gets in the way. ***** Socialite Violet Levine's *dream wedding in St. Tropez* must go off without a hitch, and Vivienne is the wedding planner behind the scenes to ensure that. She has every detail nailed down, has visited the castle-like venue dozens of times, met with vendors, and prepared everything to a T. But then Vivienne realizes the hot, filthy rich man she slept with the night before the wedding events begin is none other than Violet's older brother, the hotel mogul Axel Levine, who is paying for the whole shebang -- meaning her attraction to this man might risk her career. And when an out-of-the-blue storm threatens to flood the area where the Villa des Tropiques is located, she finds herself juggling problems beyond her control, and constantly teased by Axel's ever appealing -- and forbidden -- body. The more issues pile up on her plate, the more she becomes absolutely infatuated with Axel -- though he's the one signing her checks, and she most definitely cannot be seen frolicking with him. Between their sexual tension, and the looming storm about to literally rain on Violet's perfect day, how can Vivienne protect her reputation without losing her sanity -- and her underwear?

The strip of non-tattooed skin fell from his neck down to the fly he unfastened. "Do I scare you?" "No." "I should." . . . After a salacious event makes her want to leave home, Mina takes a traveling nurse position as far away as possible: Tokyo. In a different country with a different name, lies protect her from her past. Placed in an apartment near a Yakuza base, she meets Ryuzo, an alluring and disillusioned member of the criminal organization. As the two grow closer, Ryuzo admits he is trying to free himself of his gang ties. Mina vows to help him, but when she discovers his true identity, she realizes she isn't the only dirty, dirty liar. . . . Content Warning: This story is intended for mature audiences only. This story contains frequent cursing, explicit sexual content, mild violence, and mentions of drug use.

After a nasty breakup, romance writer Joanna Wilson travels to a beach house for a much-needed escape. But when she runs into her best friend's older brother and longtime crush, the summer takes an unexpected turn. As old flames spark and secrets come to light, Joanna and Gabriel must decide if they're willing to risk it all. ***** When romance writer Joanna Wilson catches her boyfriend cheating, she sees her own happily ever after going down the drain. However, what should've been one of the worst moments of her life turns out to be a blessing in disguise when her best friend suggests she travels to her parents' beach house for a much-needed escape and an opportunity to write a new book. Without thinking twice, she jumps at the chance to get her life back on track, not expecting to find rock star Gabriel Morales - aka her best friend's older brother and lifelong crush - only wrapped in a towel the moment she opens the door. They've known each other their whole lives so they decide there's no harm in spending summer together-especially when they both need a break from the world. But when the sizzling attraction they've been nurturing for each other over the years comes out to play, they'll need to decide if they're ready to play with fire and confront the dark secrets that hover over their heads. *** [best friend's brother/rockstar]

In a family of dark-haired children, blonde Ivy has always felt like the odd duck out. Always finding herself in trouble, she sees her potential redemption when the village's new visitor asks her to show him around. Everyone is sure to take notice when she's on the arm of a handsome man. But her new friend is more charming than she expected, and she soon hopes for a lot more than sightseeing. If only she could shake the feeling that he is hiding something from her... Sam Hemsworth is an agent working for the Rose Agency. A new case brings him to a picturesque village where any visitor is the latest news. The constant attention from the residents is not ideal when you need to discover someone's darkest secrets. Being attracted to the daughter of the family he's sent to investigate isn't overly helpful, either. He had better complete his mission as quickly as possible before Ivy's dog steals his wooden leg again... or the dog's owner steals his heart.

When Piper discovers she has hidden cybernetic implants, she is inducted into the secretive AmpCore Academy to master incredible gifts, in a place where the impossible and possible collide... WINNER IN THE 2024 WATTY AWARDS AND GRAND FAVOURITE IN THE 2024 AMBYS * || WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST? || Hadrian is a city split in two. One side lives under the iron rule of competing tech corporations. The other is a wasteland, destroyed in a schism between human and artificial intelligence, stalked by code-wraiths, mad AIs and berserk cyborg abominations. When streetkid Piper is attacked by a rogue codewraith from Hadrian South, she discovers that she has hidden implants that no normal person should possess. Not willing to tolerate such an anomaly, the corporate overlords of Hadrian rip Piper out of her life and send her to the secluded AmpCore Academy, where she is set on a new path, whether she likes it or not. At the academy it quickly becomes clear that the wraith attack was no accident. Someone, somewhere, tried to murder her. Plunging into the murky world of corporate politics, academy cliques and gangland wars, Piper has to find out who wanted her dead, and stop them before they try again. || AmpCore: Book 1 || - [COMPLETED] *NB. this story contains strong language.